40 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



cyclone that destroyed the hotel at the baths. 

 The great north range of sierras seemed to rise 

 higher and higher as we left them behind us on our 

 route to the coast. We bid them farewell, for a 

 time, to join the schooner that now awaited us at 

 Esperanza. At dark we reached the uninteresting 

 little port, scrambled upon a decrepit dock, and 

 took the launch for the Barrera. We received a 

 noisy ovation from Luis and Mulatica, the two 

 dogs on board. 



The Barrera was anchored about two hundred 

 yards from the dock. A northeast breeze ruffled 

 the water into phosphorescent whitecaps. Scud- 

 ding clouds opened and closed to view intensely 

 bright stars that shone without the twinkle they 

 have in the north. We groped about the obscure 

 deck for our beds and turned in, full of enthusiasm 

 and lively anticipation for the morrow — our first 

 day of the cruise. 



