68 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



The day departed in a blaze of glory to the west. 

 As darkness fell upon us great banks of cloud over 

 Azucar seemed to expand with light as continuous 

 threads of heat lightning played about them. 

 Every trace of wind died out, the schooner floating 

 in stolid repose. All was quiet excepting for 

 distant squawking of water-fowl among the 

 mangroves of Hutia Key. One by one we slipped 

 away to bed, or nodded over the submarine light ; 

 but by 9 o'clock a pirate could have boarded us 

 with heavy tread, save for Luis and Mulatica. 



