CHAPTER II 

 FIRST VISIT TO THE BAHAMAS 



In the spring of 1935 (only forty years after the experiments described 

 in the last chapter) my two daughters, Lydia and Alice, were spending 

 some weeks in Nassau. They decided to give their father a new kind of 

 vacation and sent word that they had chartered a boat and we would cruise 

 among the out-islands. This was a command in obedience to which I made 

 my first visit to the Bahamas. 



On my arrival, we proceeded at once to our boat which was lying at a 

 dock at the market-place. It was native-built, about thirty feet overall 

 and eight feet beam. Sloop-rigged, it had a fair amount of sail and was 

 equipped with a twenty horsepower motor. The main cabin had the usual 

 accommodations in a small boat, consisting of two lower and two upper 

 berths, a gas stove and toilet. It was of shallow draft with centerboard 

 which occupied valuable space and caused considerable inconvenience. 

 A hatch on the fore-deck gave access to space below sufficient for two 

 bunks which were used by the Captain and his assistant. A small cockpit 

 aft and a dinghy which was towed, completed the main characteristics 

 of this little vessel, which we found admirably suited to the purposes for 

 which it was used. It had been given the attractive name of Spindrift. The 

 two men who navigated and provided for us were experienced natives 

 and seemed capable and anxious to please. Indeed we found them so. 



I had arrived in the forenoon and we were anxious to start on our cruise 

 at once. All that was needed was an extra supply of fuel which our Captain 

 had not taken on because he had not understood that we intended to stay 



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