CHAPTER XV 

 Lena Keys to Guadiana Bay 



Thursday, May 28th. By 5 o'clock we were 

 under way. The wind had moderated during the 

 night and held more steadily from the east. Once 

 clear of the keys, a disproportionately heavy sea 

 was running, into which we bucked. An easterly 

 current of about one knot accounted for this. 

 During the whole tedious day of beating in long 

 tacks against the wind and the sea, to accomplish 

 only forty miles in a straight line, we experienced 

 every kind and description of weather, generally 

 adverse and disagreeable. The schooner is very 

 stiff and carried all regular sail. Although she 

 made excellent weather of it with easy pitch and 

 roll there was too much motion for work. It was 

 by far our most uncomfortable day aboard, for 

 without employment there was no relief from the 

 contemplation of our unhappy surroundings. 



When rain squalls arrived, the crew would 

 quickly remove their clothes and slip into trousers 



