Part 6 (1/2)
”Now, Pengarvan,” Reuben said in great glee, ”bring out your log book. We have not compared notes since we started, for till we expected to reach land there was no occasion to do so, as our general course was clear enough. Now let us see where you put her.
”And you, too, Roger; let us see what hand you have made of it.
”I went through my calculations yesterday, and I am sure that there is no mistake in the figures. If I am right, this is the island that we see ahead, the one called Samona; while that we see dimly away on the port hand is Mariguana. I don't see, by this map, any land marked that could be that which we see on the starboard hand.
”Now, what do you make of it?”
”I put it more than a degree to the southeast, Captain; and believe that the three islands we see are those marked as the Caicos: the Great Caicos in the center, North and East on either hand.”
”And you, Roger, what do you make of it?”
”According to my calculation, father, we ought to be full two hundred miles from land, and heading straight for Abaco, the northernmost of these islands.”
The captain laughed, and even Pengarvan smiled.
”I fear, Roger, it would be hardly safe to leave the s.h.i.+p in your hands, at present. You are some six hundred miles away from Pengarvan's islands, and but seventy less from mine.
”Well, Pengarvan, whether you or I be right, we may congratulate ourselves; for we have made a near cast, indeed, seeing that it is eight weeks since we left England, and more than six since we sailed out of sight of Madeira; and that we traversed a sea altogether strange to us, and of whose currents we know nothing. We are both right, to a day, in our reckoning of distance; and neither of us need feel hurt, if the other turns out right, at finding himself but sixty miles out, on a voyage of such length as this.
”I headed for this point because, as I said, we must steer clear of the great islands; which are, as you know, wholly in the possession of the Spaniards, who have dispossessed the inhabitants, and use them as slaves for working the plantations and mines. As you see by the chart, they have no posts in all these islands, running from here northwest, nearly up to the mainland; except a small post at San Salvador. Now we will coast up through these islands, till we get within sight of Columbus Point, at the southerly end of San Salvador; for that was the island, you know, that was first discovered by him in '92. Then we will strike westward to Andros, and after that shape her course due west. This will take us north of the west end of Cuba, and well out of sight of land; but we must be careful of our navigation, for as you see it is written here:
”'Small islands, innumerable, scattered among those marked here; these being the princ.i.p.al. Many of these islands are low, and show but little above the water. Sailing is very perilous, and not to be attempted at night.'
”You see, in this course we shall have the advantage of being well out of the ordinary line of pa.s.sage of the Spaniards, who shape their course more to the southward, make Porto Rico their first landfall, and then have the two great islands, Hispaniola and Cuba, lying straight before them; free, as it seems, by the chart, from any dangers to navigation.
”Roger, from this evening we will compare our log books day by day, so that you may learn where it is that you have gone wrong. But I can guess how it is. The wind is blowing chiefly from the east, and you will never make allowance enough for drift; and I have told you over and over again that, with a light wind on our beam, we drive a mile to leeward for every two we go on our course. There are many s.h.i.+ps which will drift nigh a mile for every mile they sail, in light winds. When the wind is brisk, and we are going fast through the water, then we drift but little, not more perhaps than one mile to six or seven.”
”But why is that, father? How is it that a light wind blows us away sideways; and that a strong wind, instead of blowing us more, blows us less?”
”That I cannot tell you, Roger. You must leave those questions for wiser heads to settle. I only know that it is so--of that there is no doubt at all; but why, I have not the least idea.
”How does it strike you, Pengarvan?”
The Cornishman shook his head.
”I have thought it over, Captain, many times. It seems to me, sometimes, that I have a sort of notion why it is; but it is not clear, even to myself. I could not put it into words.”
The first mate now looked into the cabin.
”Here we are, James. Pengarvan puts her here, opposite these three little islands. I put her here some sixty miles away.”
”It matters not at all, that I can see, which it is,” Standing said. ”One island is as good as another, so that it has got water and fruit. The tubs are getting low, and the men are beginning to need a change of diet; so I hope, Captain, you will lay her to at the first we come to, and get what we want, whether it is Spaniard or native we have to fight for it.”
”I hope we shall have to fight neither, Standing; but I don't think we are likely to meet with Spaniards--for all the islands in these groups are small ones, and the navigation dangerous. As for the Indians, I fear we may not find them very friendly, seeing that they will, of course, take us for Spaniards, whom they have little reason to love. Still, when they see that our intentions are peaceable, and that we wish only to trade, they may abate their hostility.”
In three hours they were close to the island that they had first seen, which proved to be much nearer than they had supposed, at first sight. It was low, and thickly covered with trees, and of only a few miles' circ.u.mference.
”There is no chance of finding the natives hostile here,” Reuben Hawkshaw said. ”Their numbers can be but scanty, and the only fear is that they may hide themselves in the woods at our approach, and refuse to have dealing with us.
”Get the lead ready to sound, James, and put some grease on the bottom, that we may see what kind of holding ground it is.”