按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ng a prayer of thankfulness for my escape from danger； and mentally vowing that the canoe should cross all other treacherous inlets in a fisherman's sloop。 I went into camp in a hollow of the beach； where the sand…hills protected me from the piercing wind。 All that afternoon I watched from my burrow in the ground the raging of the elements； and towards evening was pleased to note a general subsidence of wind and sea。
The canoe was again put into the water and the thoroughfare followed southward for a mile or two； when the short day ended； leaving me beside a marshy island； which was fringed with an oyster…bed of sharp…beaked bivalves。 Stepping overboard in the mud and water； the oars and paddle were laid upon the shell reef to protect the canoe； which was dragged on to the marsh。 It grew colder as the wind died out。 The marsh was wet； and no fire…wood could be found。 The canvas cover was removed； the cargo was piled up on a platform of oars and shells to secure it from the next tide； and then I slowly and laboriously packed myself away in the narrow shell for the night。 The canvas deck…cover was buttoned in its place； a rubber blanket covered the cockpit； and I tried to sleep and dream that I was not a sardine； nor securely confined in some inhospitable vault。 It was impossible to turn over without unbuttoning one side of the deck…cover and going through contortions that would have done credit to a first…class acrobat。 For the first time in my life I found it necessary to get out of bed in order to turn over in it。
At midnight； mallards （Anas boschas） came close to the marsh。 The soft whagh of the drake； which is not in this species blessed with the loud quack of the female bird； sufficiently established the identity of the duck。 Then muskrats； and the oyster…eating coon； came round； no doubt scenting my provisions。 Brisk raps from my knuckles on the inside shell of the canoe astonished these animals and aroused their curiosity； for they annoyed me until daybreak。
When I emerged from my narrow bed； the frosty air struck my cheeks； and the cold； wet marsh chilled my feet。 It was the delay at Watchapreague Inlet that had lodged me on this inhospitable marsh； so； trying to exercise my poor stock of patience； I completed my toilet； shaking in my wet shoes。 The icy water； into which I stepped ankle…deep in order to launch my canoe； reminded me that this wintry morning was in fact the first day of December； and that stormy Hatteras； south of which was to be found a milder climate； was still a long way off。
The brisk row along Paramore's Island （called Palmer's by the natives） to the wide； bay…like entrance of Little Machipongo Inlet； restored warmth to my benumbed limbs。 This wide doorway of the ocean permitted me to cross its west portal in peace； for the day was calm。 From Little to Great Machipongo Inlet the beach is called Hog Island。 The inside thoroughfare is bounded on the west by Rogue's Island； out of the flats of which rose a solitary house。 At the southern end of Hog Island there is a small store on a creek； and near the beach a light…house； while a little inland is located； within a forest of pines； a small settlement。
At noon； Great Machipongo Inlet was crossed without danger； and Cobb's Island was skirted several miles to Sand Shoal Inlet； near which the hotel of the three Cobb brothers rose cheerfully out of the dreary waste of sands and marshes。 The father of the present proprietors came to this island more than thirty years ago； and took possession of this domain； which had been thrown up by the action of the ocean's waves。 He refused an offer of one hundred thousand dollars for the island。 The locality is one of the best on this coast for wild…fowl shooting。 Sand Shoal Inlet； at the southern end of Cobb's Island； has a depth of twelve feet of water on its bar at low tide。
In company with the regular row…boat ferry I crossed； the next day； the broad bay to the mainland eight miles distant； where the canoe was put upon a cart and taken across the peninsula five miles to Cherrystone； the only point near Cape Charles at which a Norfolk steamer stopped for passengers。 It was fully forty miles across Chesapeake Bay from Cherrystone Landing to Norfolk； and it was imperative to make the portage from this place instead of from Cape Charles； which； though more than fifteen miles further south； and nearer to my starting…point on the other side； did not possess facilities for transportation。 The slow one…horse conveyance arrived at Cherrystone half an hour after the steamer N。 P。 Banks had left the landing； though I heard that the kind…hearted captain； being told I was coming； waited and whistled for me till his patience was exhausted。
The only house at the head of the pier was owned by Mr。 J。 P。 Powers； and fortunately offered hotel accommodations。 Here I remained until the next trip of the boat； December 4。 Arriving in Norfolk at dusk of the same day； I stored my canoe in the warehouse of the Old Dominion Steamship Company； and quietly retired to a hotel which promised an early meal in the morning； congratulating myself the while that I had avoided the usual show of curiosity tendered to canoeists at city piers； and above all had escaped the inevitable reporter。 Alas！ my thankfulness came too soon； for when about to retire； my name was called； and a veritable reporter from the Norfolk Landmark cut off my retreat。
〃Only a few words；〃 he pleadingly whispered。 〃I've been hunting for you all over the city since seven o'clock； and it is near midnight now。〃
He gently took my arm and politely furnished me with a chair。 Then placing his own directly before me； he insinuatingly worked upon me until he derived a knowledge of the log of the Paper Canoe； when leaning back in his chair he leisurely surveyed me and exclaimed：
〃Mr。 Bishop； you are a man of snap。 We like men of snap； we admire men of snap； in fact； I may say we cotton to men of snap； and I am proud to make your acquaintance。 Now if you will stop over a day we will have the whole city out to see your boat。〃
This kind offer I firmly refused； and we were about to part； when he said in a softly rebuking manner：
〃You thought； Mr。 Bishop； you would give us the slip did you not？ I assure you that would be quite impossible。 Eternal Vigilance is our motto。 No； you could not escape us。 Good evening； sir； and the 'Landmark's' welcome to you。〃
Six hours later； as I entered the restaurant of the hotel with my eyes half open； a newsboy bawled out in the darkness： 〃'Ere's the Landmark。' Full account of the Paper Canoe；〃 &c。 And before the sun was up I had read a column and a half of 〃The Arrival of the Solitary Voyager in Norfolk。〃 So much for the zeal of Mr。 Perkins of the 〃Landmark；〃 a worthy example of American newspaper enterprise。 Dreading further attentions； I now prepared to beat a hasty retreat from the city。
CHAPTER IX。 FROM NORFOLK TO CAPE HATTERAS。
THE ELIZABETH RIVER。 THE CANAL。 NORTH LANDING RIVER。 CURRITUCK SOUND。 ROANOKE ISLAND。 VISIT TO BODY ISLAND LIGHT…HOUSE。 A ROMANCE OF HISTORY。 PAMPLICO SOUND。 THE PAPER CANOE ARRIVES AT CAPE HATTERAS。
On Saturday morning； Dec