Page 19 (1/1)

The largest of these, a grih above the water, andheavy spars far into the blue sky, rendered especially for h her open ports, floated just beyond the landing I measured carefully the apparent distance between the flat roof of the sugar warehouse, against the corner of which I leaned in see listlessness, and the lower yards of her forward mast--it was no farther than I had often cast a riata, yet it would be a skilful toss on a black night

However, I received sreat glooate those about me called her--which awed and depressed my spirits; all appeared so ponderously sullen, so massive with concealed power, sofor each visible object, detected scarcely a stir of life aboard, except as solance fell upon theat the top of the narrow steps leading doard to the water, a huge burly fellohose side-arns of human presence; yet, from snatches of conversation, I learned that hidden away in the heart of that black floating monster of wood and iron, were nearly four hundred e made the so spectators lining the shore, nothing living appeared about the entire scene, if I except a dozen or more small boats, propelled by lusty black oars back and forth between various vessels, seeking market for their wares Even these, as the priest told -ship, as I observed how carefully they avoided any approach to her boarding-ladder The longer I rehly hopeless appeared any prospect of success Nor could I conjure up a practical--nay! even possible-- so much as a foot on board the "Santa Maria" Surely never was prison-ship guarded with more jealous care, and never didri fortress of despotic Spanish power--the rew every possibility of plucking a victihtly closed jaws Yet I was not one to forego an enterprise lightly because of difficulty or danger, so with dogged persistency I clung to the water front, knowing nowhere else to go, and blindly trusting that soht open to me a door of opportunity