THE FLAMINGO 161 



shy. If, without cover, we attempted to approach nearer 

 than two hundred yards, there was a sinuous movement 

 along the line of birds as the long slender necks were raised 

 and the birds regarded us intently. Drawing nearer, we 

 could hear a murmur of goose-like honkings as the birds, in 

 slow and stately fashion, began to move away step by step. 

 Then the leader sprang into the air, stretched his long neck 

 and legs to the utmost, and, followed hy other members of 

 the flock, in diagonal single file, generally flew out of sight. 

 It is surprising how far, under proper light conditions, even 

 a small flock of Flamingos may be seen. Long after one fails 

 to distinguish the individual, in the waving, undulating line 

 of birds, the flock shows pink against the sky like a rapidly 

 moving wisp of cloud which finally dissolves into space. 



The "Estrella" was rated an exceptionally seaworthy 

 vessel in the Bahamas; but the Bahaman sailor's standard 

 of excellence would not, I fear, pass current in a marine 

 insurance office. Bahaman boats being built largely of 

 wreckage, are, so to speak, born old; and the "Estrella" 

 was no exception to the rule. From the beginning of our 

 cruise she had leaked so badly that, after his turn at the 

 wheel, every man was obliged to pump for a certain period. 

 This period gradually increased in length and the matter 

 was brought to a focus, when we were about to set sail for 

 Nassau, by the discovery of numerous jelly fish in the hold. 



Even a Bahaman seaman could not ignore this sign, and 

 Captain Stiles announced that the "Estrella" would prob- 

 ably go to the bottom if we sailed without stopping her 

 leaks. How this was to be done without dry-dock or ways 

 was not apparent; but voyagers here early learn the neces- 

 sity of self-reliance, and we now witnessed a maneuvere 

 such as pirates had doubtless often practiced in these 

 waters. 



Instead of turning our boat seaward, we headed for the 

 shore and on the full of the early morning tide ran the 

 "Estrella "aground. The crew, with the assistance of 



