by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XI.
DIFFICULT NAVIGATION.
"Three hours ago, which means that the Islander is about thirty milesahead of us," said Washburn, when I went into the pilot-house.
"She must have put in somewhere, and it was not at Mosquito Inlet," Ireplied. "I don't quite understand it."
"I think I do," added Washburn, as he called in Buck Lingley and gavehim the wheel.
He led the way to the chart on the shelf, upon which a light was castfrom the binnacle. He pointed out Matanzas Inlet, at the southern pointof Anastasia Island, and fifteen miles south of St. Augustine.
"She went into that inlet," said Washburn.
"But there isn't water enough in it to float the Islander," I replied.
"I think she did not go in far, if at all. The wind was off shoreyesterday, and under the lee of the land there is no sea of anyconsequence, except what is caused by the rollers. If the captain ofthat schooner has given the time correctly, it shows that the Islanderwent to sea about an hour and half before we did. That will put herthirty miles ahead of us," Washburn explained; and his reasoning seemedto be correct.
"The Islander put in somewhere, or she would have been two hundred andforty miles farther on the way to Key West than we are," I added. "Shedid not stand off to sea, as there was not the least need of that, forthe wind has been off shore since we came out of the St. Johns."
"I am confident we are right. Now the question is, shall we chase her?"asked Washburn. "She is thirty miles ahead of us; and we have nearlythree hundred and fifty miles to make to reach Key West."
"There is no wind to-night to help us, and it will take as much coal toget the two extra knots out of the Sylvania as it will to make theordinary and regular ten knots an hour, to say nothing of the wear andtear of boiler and machinery," I replied, musing.
"But the Islander will get to Key West before Cornwood does, if sheputs in there, and we may miss her altogether."
"I should like to get near enough to her to watch her movements," Iadded. "I think if we crowd the Sylvania for six or seven hours weshall get a sight of her. I am inclined to hurry her."
"I am decidedly in favor of it, for she may escape her owner altogetherif we don't follow her up."
"Eight bells! All the port watch!" called Buck Lingley, who had beenrelieved at the wheel.
I went on deck, and when Ben Bowman came up I told him I wanted him togive the vessel all the steam she would carry. There was a light breezefrom the westward, but not enough to help the speed of the steamer, andwe did not put on any sail. I took my place at the wheel while HopTossford was the lookout on the topgallant forecastle.
In a short time the screw began to buzz, and when Buck and Dyer Perkinswent below, after heaving the lead, the Sylvania was making elevenknots. I expected her to do better than this. At four o'clock in themorning, when the starboard watch were called, we were off Indian RiverInlet. Nothing had been said about trying the fish since we leftJacksonville. There was not water enough in Indian River to float thesteamer, and I gave up all thought of renewing the exciting sport wehad had in these waters when we came over from the St. Johns. At fouro'clock I turned in and slept till eight.
I found the barometer had been dropping again, and the wind came fromthe eastward, which was not a good way to have the wind while we wereoff the coast. While I was eating my breakfast, the Sylvania came upwith Jupiter Inlet, where Washburn changed the course to south,three-quarters east. The log-slate showed that we had made eleven and ahalf knots. I figured up the distances, and concluded that the Islandermust be about twelve miles ahead of us. I did not give the othersteamer the credit of making more than ten knots an hour.
The wind had freshened considerably since I left the deck early in themorning, and I ordered all sail to be set. Soon after the log showedthat we were making twelve knots, which was about the best speed we hadever made. We kept her going at this rate till noon, and I had thewheel during the time. In the course of the forenoon we had visits fromall the passengers, but the wind was raw and cold, and they did notremain long on deck.
"Sail, ho!" shouted Hop Tossford, from the topgallant forecastle.
"Where away?" I asked, looking ahead, though as it was not clear I sawnothing distinctly.
"Sharp on the weather bow," replied the lookout.
I looked in the direction indicated, and could just make out a sail. Iexamined it through the glass, and was satisfied it was the Islander. Ihad calculated that we ought to be up with her by noon; but it wasevident to me that her captain had been hurrying her, as I did notanticipate he would do. I soon assured myself that she was not on thesame course as the Sylvania. She was headed at least a point more tothe westward. We had on all the sail it was prudent to carry, and BenBowman declared the engine was doing its best.
"We have been gaining on her every hour," I said to the mate. "If wekeep on we shall overtake her in a few hours, though she is making herbest speed."
"But she is going more to the westward than we are," added Washburn,looking at the chase through the glass.
"I think she is making a mistake, for I should not care to be mixed upamong those shoals if it comes on bad weather; and it looks like itnow."
"The wind is hauling more to the southward, and I shall look for a fogbefore night."
We kept on our course as laid down in the Coast-pilot, without regardto the Islander. I called the passengers at two in the afternoon, whenwe again changed our course to south, quarter west, to show them theIslander. She was still headed a point farther to the westward than wewere. As our course from this point to Key West was on thecircumference of a quarter-circle, I supposed Captain Blastblow onlyintended to take the shortest way by keeping inside of us, and I didnot alter anything. But I was confident that he would have to runoutside again in order to avoid the shoals of Virginia and BiscayneKeys. I had studied the chart carefully every day, and had found placeswhere there was not more than four, or even more than two, feet ofwater at low tide, as it was at this time.
At four o'clock the Islander was not more than a mile to the south ofus, though she was two miles nearer shore than we were. We were abreastof the light-house at Cape Florida, and I expected to intercept theIslander when she came out from the dangerous shoals, rendered doublydangerous by the threatening weather. But the other steamer gave noindications of changing her course, and I soon saw her close to thelight-house.
"She seems to be behaving very strangely, Captain Alick," said themate, as we were watching her from the pilot-house.
"It seems to me that she is losing time. There are shoals and rocksjust to the southward of her," I replied.
"There she goes about!" exclaimed Washburn, as she pointed her bow tothe eastward. "I think we had better take in all the sail we carry, forwe have only a mile of southing to make while the other steamer makestwo miles of easting."
All hands were called for this duty, for the wind was coming heavierand heavier every minute. The mate and the four men made quick work ofit. The Islander carried no sail, though her people must have seen theSylvania two hours before.
"I am glad Captain Blastblow has come to his senses, and is standingout from the shore," I added. "About five miles to the eastward of theline of Keys, which form part of a circle, from Cape Florida to PickleReef, more than forty miles, is a series of reefs and rocks. There is apassage between the reefs and the Keys, through which vessels of lightdraught may pass. But I believe in having plenty of sea room when theweather looks as it does now."
When we were abreast of Cape Florida the Islander suddenly put up herhelm, and stood off to the south-west. This movement indicated that shehad no intention of coming any nearer to the Sylvania. I was perplexedat this change of course, because I could hardly conceive of such athing as Captain Blastblow taking the inside route in that threateningweather. There was nothing to protect his vessel from the heavy seas,and in some places he would have hardly water enough to float theIslander.
In about another hour Fowey Rocks
were between the two vessels. Therewas no way of getting out of the inside passage except that by which hewent in, or at the southerly end of the series of reefs.
"It looks to me just as though the Islander wanted to keep out of ourway," said Washburn, when we had settled the question as to what theIslander intended to do.
"That had not occurred to me before," I replied. "Why should she try toavoid us?"
"That's what bothers me. I can't see the least reason for such conducton the part of her captain," added the mate.
"It looks to me like very risky business to go into such a place asthat with a south-east gale threatening," I continued, as I went to theshelf to find a chart of the Florida reefs, which I had carefullystudied. "There is one place where the Islander will have only six feetof water at low tide, perhaps seven and a half or eight at this time oftide. I think she will have to get in behind one of the Keys, andanchor to wait for the tide to rise."
"I hope nothing will happen to the Islander. I suppose CaptainBlastblow knows what he is about, and probably has a pilot for theinside of the reefs," said Washburn.
"If it was good weather, it would be another thing, and I should nothave hesitated to follow him, for we have the Coast Pilot, and the bestcharts of the Coast Survey."
"It is getting to be very rough out here," added Washburn, as theSylvania began to roll heavily in the billows that swept in from theopen sea. Our passengers were taking their afternoon naps, but theysoon found out that we were in an angry sea. I went into the cabin tocomfort them. Mrs. Shepard wanted to know if we could not put in atsome port, as we had done on Thursday.
"There is no port we can enter before we reach Key West, madam. Withthe wind as it is now, and blowing hard, I am afraid to go any nearerthe reefs than we are now."
"I hear that a great many vessels are wrecked on the Florida Reefs,"added the lady.
"That is quite true, Mrs. Shepard; and for that reason I shall notapproach them any nearer than we are now. As long as we have plenty ofsea room, I do not apprehend any particular danger."
The rain began to fall about six, and the weather was so thick we couldno longer see the Islander. The last time we had seen her she must havebeen some miles farther to the northward than the Sylvania, and I wassatisfied that Captain Blastblow had not gained anything by goinginside of the reefs. As I made it out from the chart, he had twice beenobliged to go to the eastward over two miles, in order to keep in thedeepest water. I suspected that he had been aground, and had to waitfor the tide; for at dark, when we saw the steamer for the last time,we were at least five miles farther south.
"We will keep her going as briskly as the heavy sea will permit, untilabout midnight; and then we will ease off till daylight. Then I thinkwe shall get another sight of the Islander," I said to the mate, as hewas about to turn in at eight.
"I don't think there is any danger of her getting ahead faster than wedo," replied the mate, with a yawn. "I believe I shall sleep well, if Idon't get pitched out of my berth."
He was leaving the pilot-house, when the distant report of a gun cameto our ears. I concluded at once that the Islander was in trouble.