Page:Small-boat sailing; an explanation of the management of small yachts, half-decked and open sailing-boats of various rigs; sailing on sea and on river; cruising, etc (IA smallboatsailing01knig).pdf/77

 boat from the pitching and rolling steamer, and pulled off alone towards the distant shore.

The steamer stood by for a while to see that all went well with me. The sea was running parallel to the shore, the fresh trade-wind being here nearly always opposed to the strong current of the Gulf Stream. For some time I got on well; but I found that I had to exert the greatest care and vigilance, keeping the boat dead before each high sea, and edging shorewards in the 'smooths.' When I was about a mile from the steamer, which was still lying to, I entered a succession of steep and dangerous seas. A few had rolled safely by me, when there came one which broke just as I was about to top it; a volume of water rushed over the stern of the boat, filling it and then capsizing it. Clinging to the keel with one hand, I held up an oar with the other as a signal to the steamer, which was still lying to. She immediately began to steam ahead, and I took it for granted that she was making for me; but soon, to my dismay, I realised that she had turned, and was proceeding on her voyage, directly away from me. My signal had been mistaken for an intimation that all was right with me. Thus left alone, with but small chance of receiving any assistance, for there were no boats on that portion of the coast, my first idea was to make an attempt to swim for the shore, but I saw that the distance was too great, and that it was extremely unlikely I should reach the land, even if I escaped the sharks that swarm in