The
vessel driving rapidly forward soon left Paul behind. He stood upright
in the water and shouted cheerfully.
"All right captain, I'm all right."
His cheery call was echoed by the command "All right, go ahead."
A few moments after the lights of the Queen disappeared, and Paul was
alone on the dark, rolling sea. From his position on the deck before
going overboard, he could distinctly see the gleam of the Cape Clear
light; but on the sea far below he could not find it. He knew
the direction of the wind, that was then south west and guided his
course accordingly. On every mighty swell that lifted him high up, he
looked eagerly in the direction of the light and soon discovered it
ahead. Perfectly content and without a fear of danger he kept
paddling along occasionally cheering himself with a few snatches of a
sea song as he drove his paddle strongly in the water and propelled
himself toward the light which he observed more frequently when raised
high up on the swells. The wind was steadily increasing and soon burst
into terrible gusts. The long lazy roll of the sea changed and sharp,
snapping waves continually broke over him. These grew larger and more
powerful every moment. About two hours after he left the Queen the
gale was on him in all its fierceness and the light was lost to his
view.
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