Like a true heron be could floatbut he could not
swim a stroke.
I helped him down from the beaconand we returned to
the clearing. John Pratt of London, turned, noted that I wasawake, and:Shes still
there, he said.
Midnight: I have just been on a tour of inspection
during a lull in therain.
When he returned to the clearing he told us that
one ofher anchor chains had parted! When we got to the clearing we found the cowboys
playing blackjack byfirelight.
Many frigate birds were still in the air, blown
this way andthat in wild confusion. Oh well, I suppose that most of us in the South
Seas acquire similarcharacteristics. If wedont crowd sail well never finish them
today!
Weak, trembling, I loosened my life rope andslipped
to the ground. Then the feeling of perilbecame overpowering.
Thewaves bashed her and ducked her, but she
responded by turning a somersault.
Like a true heron be could floatbut he could not
swim a stroke.
Midnight: I have just been on a tour of inspection
during a lull in therain. For a moment I did not heed the sense ofdanger that
prompted me to glance to the north.
He said nothing;just rose like an obedient child
and followed me.
Later shetold me, almost fretfully, that the rum
had kept her awake during the restof the storm! We crept through the clamorous
blackness. It reminded me of the Clashing Rocks of theOdyssey. There was a moment of
crashing branches, rushing water. The tall coconut tree to windwardleaned so far
over that it sometimes touched the tree-house.
All the trees on the lagoon side of the island, we
noticed, were black withroosting birds. It showed Panikinikis crossboom hanging from
alimb; the canoe was gone. Then heclosed the scuttle and we all climbed into the
canoe. Some god must have looked down on us and saved us, for the house did
notcollapse immediately.
After that, feeling better, we sat in the cabin and
lookedthrough Pratts scrapbook.
Anyway, I had been wondering what hope would remain
to usif the five tamanu trees fell. In a moment I had Elaine on my backand had tied
her there with a quilt. In the meantime I had taken two or three good drinks myself.
I hadfallen into my first sound sleep when Powell woke me with a yell:Look
out!
And I got back none too soon; a big comber all
butcaught me as I was climbing to the tree-house.