86 THE LOG OF THE 



pump handle managed to get them back in place and we let go 

 both halyards and down the sail came in good style. In ten minutes 

 it was bound up and lashed steady. I could then breathe again. Our 

 trouble was only too evident. The stays on the mainmast were 

 hanging in coils on the deck. The runner had been holding the rig 

 steady and once it was off, every plunge of the boat was reflected in a 

 sweep forward of the mast-heads. The wind must have been a lot 

 heavier than I thought. Once the mainsail was in, nearly all the 

 strain was removed and we had no trouble in jibing back the fore- 

 sail. The try-sail was then set and the jib hoisted and our course laid 

 for where I thought Hope Island ought to lie. 



While Mac got busy fixing the jaws of the main boom, Oily and 

 I took up the turnbuckles of the main rigging. At supper time Hope 

 Island came in sight. I was pretty glad to see it as after steering vari- 

 ous courses for 64 miles, our position was a bit uncertain. The surf 

 around the light was the grandest sight imaginable. The tremendous 

 power of the breaking seas was shown by the fact that solid water 

 was often hurled as high as the light itself (100 ft. above high wa- 

 ter). With our short rig it was necessary to tack down wind. Shortly 

 after dark Lockport Light came in sight and we ran to pick up Cape 

 Buenavista. At eleven 1 began to get worried. Cape Negro (below 

 Shelburne) was clearly visible, yet the only light in the direction of 

 Shelburne harbor was a 6 second light which soon proved to be the 

 fairway buoy. Reasonably sure of our position and well lighted by a 

 bright moon, we ran in and soon saw the tall tower on McNutt 

 Island, for all the world like a lighted cigarette. The light was out 

 of order and the keeper had a small lantern up in the tower. 



The run up the mouth of the harbor was thrilling to say the least. 

 On both sides of us great seas seemed to break right into the woods. 

 The spray, lit up by the moon, flew away up the shore in among the 

 pine trees. As we had to keep one sea outside the breakers all the way 

 in, it was no place for a timid man at the wheel. 



