204 BAHAMA BIRD-LIFE 



increased in force, reaching, as we afterward learned, a 

 maximum of eighty miles an hour, the sea rose correspond- 

 ingly, and it required an experienced hand to hold the boat 

 to her course and avoid an upset. 



So, we wallowed along with the water sloshing over 

 everything above decks and below, and with the always en- 

 livening prospect that the black wall ahead might conceal a 

 port for which we had not started ; when at midnight it was 

 discovered that the motion of the boat had split the seams 

 of our gasolene tank ; the whole vessel was soon filled with 

 the volatile fumes and the dangers of fire became more im- 

 mediate than those of water. Every light was at once extin- 

 guished, even to the binnacle, and deprived thus of the com- 

 pass by which alone the boat could lie held to her course, 

 we were in momentary expectation of capsizing; but a 

 pocket electric torch was produced and by its rays the com- 

 pass was once more made visible. 



This was a long night and the gray light which finally re- 

 vealed the dark line of keys to the eastward, found a crew 

 whose one desire was to reach a harbor in which they might 

 rest. Under the guidance of the pilot, we therefore headed 

 for the keys and, touching bottom nearly all the way, reach- 

 ed a protected basin which was unanimously declared to be 

 the most attractive place that each man aboard the boat had 

 ever visited. The chart showed that, with only a few square 

 yards of canvas, we had covered ninety miles during the 

 night. 



The day was passed in overhauling and drying our out- 

 fit and in repairing the gasolene tank which, fortunately, 

 leaked only at the top, and was therefore safe enough in 

 calm weather. 



Mai-ch 3, we resumed our voyage before a still strong, 

 northerly wind, anchoring for the night within the Jamaica 

 Cays, where we rolled heavily under the influence of cross- 

 currents, and, on March 4, reached the excellent little har- 

 bor between the Ragged Islands. 



