CHAPTER XIV 



Cape San Antonio 



Saturday, May 23d. Daylight brought a per- 

 fect realization of our rosy day-dreams concern- 

 ing the waters about Cape San Antonio. For the 

 first time in a number of days the sun arose into 

 a cloudless sky, and a fresh dry atmosphere pre- 

 saged fine weather. The water about us was 

 crystal clear. We could see the anchor chain 

 winding along the bottom through the marine 

 growths until lost by refraction twenty or thirty 

 feet beyond. Lying in a cove near the shore were 

 several large schooners loading sacks of charcoal 

 for Havana. It was disappointing that the shores 

 in sight were swampy and fringed with mangrove 

 and buttonwood. In one spot, however, near 

 a deserted house toward Cajon Point, was an 

 indication of limestone rock. At the point of 

 land nearest us, and opposite our anchorage, ap- 

 peared a narrow opening into the forest with a rude 



dock; otherwise there seemed no break in the 



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