CHAPTER X 



The storm on the lagoon; Making safe the schooners — A talk on missing 

 ships — A singular coincidence — Arrival of three of crew of the ship- 

 wrecked El Dorado — The Dutchman's story — Easter Island. 



IT blew a gale all one day and night from the north, 

 and at break of the second day, when I went down 

 the rue de Rivoli from the Tiare Hotel to the quay, 

 the lagoon was a wild scene. Squall after squall had 

 dashed the rain upon my verandas during the night, and 

 I could faintly hear the voices of the men on the schoon- 

 ers as they strove to fend their vessels from the coral 

 embankment, or hauled at anchor-ropes to^get more 

 sea-room. 



The sun did not rise, but a gray sky showed the flying 

 scud tearing at the trees and riggings, and the boom of 

 the surf on the reef was like the roaring of a great steel- 

 mill at full blast. The roadway was littered with 

 branches and the crimson leaves of the flamboyants. 

 The people were hurrying to and from market in ve- 

 hicles and on foot, soaked and anxious-looking as they 

 struggled against the wind and rain. I walked the 

 length of the built-up waterfront. The little boats were 

 being pulled out from the shore by the several launches, 

 and were making fast to buoys or putting down two 

 and three anchors a hundred fathoms away from the 

 quays. 



The storm increased all the morning, and at noon, 

 when I looked at the barometer in the Cercle Bougain- 



158 



