CHAPTER III 



Esperanza to Cayo Hutia 



Tuesday, May 12th. A superb morning. At 

 7 A.M. the air temperature 75 ; water 82 . One 

 cannot resist going overboard with such tempera- 

 ture combination, in water clear as crystal, and 

 bottom at fifteen feet seen as through a plate glass. 

 The morning dip was always a joyful function tem- 

 pered only by one element of reserve — sharks or 

 barracuda — here called picouas. The subject of 

 sharks was one that always could be relied upon 

 to precipitate a discussion on board that assumed 

 as it progressed all the outward signs of an an- 

 archistic rally. Men of the Latin race enter upon 

 arguments with an earnestness and amount of 

 feeling that perplexes the Anglo-Saxon. Is it not 

 likely, he asks aside, that these men will do each 

 other violence ? Our fish expert (Lesmes) cherished 

 gruesome memories of sharks and he was positive 

 that they are always very dangerous. His eyes 



gleam with apparent rage; with quick threatening 



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