Paddling under Palmettos — page 192: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Paddling Under Palmettos. 185 the chances they had of reaching Hillsboro’ Inlet be- fore the storm came or the wind died out. From what he heard, he made up his mind that the chances were about even, and this was not a very encouraging prospect. Meanwhile the breeze was slowly but surely dying out. Their progress became slower and slower, un- til they rolled upon the swell with hardly any per- ceptible headway. This looked serious. They were still several miles from their destina- tion. What was to be done? As veteran canoeists, Ned and Dick did not have to ask that question twice. They must start what 1s sometimes known as a “spruce breeze.” Out came the paddles. The sharpie seemed to catch some breeze away up near the tops of her tall masts, and was half a mile ahead, making very good time down the coast. Under this new influence the mosquito fleet began to move again. All they hoped for now was that the wind would hold off. If it was going to be un- favorable when it came, far better that it kept away. Gomicboo “S (E(@)