Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/150

134 "As I was saying, I passed quietly through the line of ships, and was congratulating myself on having had no trouble with them, when to my vexation I heard the sound of an anchor being weighed, and presently the whole squadron or near it stood on the same course as I. Time after time did I try to shake them off or give them the slip, but they stuck to me like leeches, taking me no doubt for one of themselves. I drew the whole train of brutes with me as far as the Darien Canal, through which I meant to pass. Unfortunately it had completely silted up."

"Ah!" said I, "when we passed through we ran aground several times."

"It is dry now, quite full of sand. There was nothing for it but to go right round the Continent of South America, and to double the Horn. Off that Cape we encountered a tremendous storm, in which several of our consorts got separated from us, or else foundered, as many a time I expected to do. When the weather cleared I found myself with four vessels still in company, the same which came with me here, and which Mr. Dana and his companions so gloriously sunk. I thought he would have sunk me too, and I