Contents：
TheHumanDriftSmall—BoatSailingFourHorsesandaSailorNothingthatEverCametoAnythingThatDeadMenRiseupNeverAClassicoftheSeaAWickedWoman（CurtainRaiser）
TheBirthMark（Sketch）
THEHUMANDRIFT
\"TheRevelationsofDevoutandLearn’dWhorosebeforeus，andasProphetsBurn’d，Areallbutstories，which，awokefromSleep，Theytoldtheircomrades，andtoSleepreturn’d。\"
Thehistoryofcivilisationisahistoryofwandering，swordinhand，insearchoffood。Inthemistyyoungerworldwecatchglimpsesofphantomraces，rising，slaying，findingfood，buildingrudecivilisations，decaying，fallingundertheswordsofstrongerhands，andpassingutterlyaway。Man，likeanyotheranimal，hasrovedovertheearthseekingwhathemightdevour；andnotromanceandadventure，butthehunger—need，hasurgedhimonhisvastadventures。WhetherabankruptgentlemansailingtocoloniseVirginiaoraleanCantonesecontractingtolabouronthesugarplantationsofHawaii，ineachcase，gentlemanandcoolie，itisadesperateattempttogetsomethingtoeat，togetmoretoeatthanhecangetathome。
Ithasalwaysbeenso，fromthetimeofthefirstpre—humananthropoidcrossingamountain—divideinquestofbetterberry—
bushesbeyond，downtothelatestSlovak，arrivingonourshoresto—day，togotoworkinthecoal—minesofPennsylvania。Thesemigratorymovementsofpeopleshavebeencalleddrifts，andthewordisapposite。Unplanned，blind，automatic，spurredonbythepainofhunger，manhasliterallydriftedhiswayaroundtheplanet。Therehavebeendriftsinthepast，innumerableandforgotten，andsoremotethatnorecordshavebeenleft，orcomposedofsuchlow—typedhumansorpre—humansthattheymadenoscratchingsonstoneorboneandleftnomonumentstoshowthattheyhadbeen。
Theseearlydriftsweconjectureandknowmusthaveoccurred，justasweknowthatthefirstupright—walkingbrutesweredescendedfromsomekinofthequadrumanathroughhavingdeveloped\"apairofgreattoesoutoftwoopposablethumbs。\"Dominatedbyfear，andbytheirveryfearacceleratingtheirdevelopment，theseearlyancestorsofours，sufferinghunger—pangsveryliketheonesweexperienceto—day，driftedon，huntingandbeinghunted，eatingandbeingeaten，wanderingthroughthousand—year—longodysseysofscreamingprimordialsavagery，untiltheylefttheirskeletonsinglacialgravels，someofthem，andtheirbone—scratchingsincave—
men’slairs。
Therehavebeendriftsfromeasttowestandwesttoeast，fromnorthtosouthandbackagain，driftsthathavecriss—crossedoneanother，anddriftscollidingandrecoilingandcaromingoffinnewdirections。FromCentralEuropetheAryanshavedriftedintoAsia，andfromCentralAsiatheTuranianshavedriftedacrossEurope。Asiahasthrownforthgreatwavesofhungryhumansfromtheprehistoric\"round—barrow\"\"broad—heads\"whooverranEuropeandpenetratedtoScandinaviaandEngland，downthroughthehordesofAttilaandTamerlane，tothepresentimmigrationofChineseandJapanesethatthreatensAmerica。ThePhoeniciansandtheGreeks，withunremembereddriftsbehindthem，colonisedtheMediterranean。
RomewasengulfedinthetorrentofGermanictribesdriftingdownfromthenorthbeforeafloodofdriftingAsiatics。TheAngles，Saxons，andJutes，afterhavingdriftedwhencenomanknows，pouredintoBritain，andtheEnglishhavecarriedthisdriftonaroundtheworld。Retreatingbeforestrongerbreeds，hungryandvoracious，theEskimohasdriftedtotheinhospitablepolarregions，thePigmytothefever—rottenjunglesofAfrica。Andinthisdaythedriftoftheracescontinues，whetheritbeofChineseintothePhilippinesandtheMalayPeninsula，ofEuropeanstotheUnitedStatesorofAmericanstothewheat—landsofManitobaandtheNorthwest。
PerhapsmostamazinghasbeentheSouthSeaDrift。Blind，fortuitous，precariousasnootherdrifthasbeen，neverthelesstheislandsinthatwasteofoceanhavereceiveddriftafterdriftoftheraces。DownfromthemainlandofAsiapouredanAryandriftthatbuiltcivilisationsinCeylon，Java，andSumatra。OnlythemonumentsoftheseAryansremain。Theythemselveshaveperishedutterly，thoughnotuntilafterleavingevidencesoftheirdriftclearacrossthegreatSouthPacifictofarEasterIsland。Andonthatdrifttheyencounteredraceswhohadaccomplishedthedriftbeforethem，andthey，theAryans，passed，inturn，beforethedriftofotherandsubsequentraceswhomweto—daycallthePolynesianandtheMelanesian。
Manearlydiscovereddeath。Assoonashisevolutionpermitted，hemadehimselfbetterdevicesforkillingthantheoldnaturalonesoffangandclaw。Hedevotedhimselftotheinventionofkillingdevicesbeforehediscoveredfireormanufacturedforhimselfreligion。Andtothisday，hisfinestcreativeenergyandtechnicalskillaredevotedtothesameoldtaskofmakingbetterandeverbetterkillingweapons。Allhisdays，downallthepast，havebeenspentinkilling。Andfromthefear—stricken，jungle—
lurking，cave—hauntingcreatureoflongago，hewontoemperyoverthewholeanimalworldbecausehedevelopedintothemostterribleandawfulkillerofalltheanimals。Hefoundhimselfcrowded。
Hekilledtomakeroom，andashemaderoomeverheincreasedandfoundhimselfcrowded，andeverhewentonkillingtomakemoreroom。Likeasettlerclearinglandofitsweedsandforestbushesinordertoplantcorn，somanwascompelledtoclearallmanneroflifeawayinordertoplanthimself。And，swordinhand，hehasliterallyhewnhiswaythroughthevastmassesoflifethatoccupiedtheearthspacehecovetedforhimself。Andeverhehascarriedthebattlewiderandwider，untilto—daynotonlyisheafarmorecapablekillerofmenandanimalsthaneverbefore，buthehaspressedthebattlehometotheinfiniteandinvisiblehostsofmenacinglivesintheworldofmicro—organisms。
Itistrue，thattheythatrosebytheswordperishedbythesword。Andyet，notonlydidtheynotallperish，butmorerosebytheswordthanperishedbyit，elsemanwouldnotto—daybeover—runningtheworldinsuchhugeswarms。Also，itmustnotbeforgottenthattheywhodidnotrisebythesworddidnotriseatall。Theywerenot。Inviewofthis，thereissomethingwrongwithDoctorJordan’swar—theory，whichistotheeffectthatthebestbeingsentouttowar，onlythesecondbest，themenwhoareleft，remaintobreedasecond—bestrace，andthat，therefore，thehumanracedeterioratesunderwar。Ifthisbeso，ifwehavesentforththebestwebredandgoneonbreedingfromthemenwhowereleft，andsincewehavedonethisfortenthousandmillenniumsandarewhatwesplendidlyareto—day，thenwhatunthinkablysplendidandgod—likebeingsmusthavebeenourforebearsthosetenthousandmillenniumsago!UnfortunatelyforDoctorJordan’stheory，thoseancientforebearscannotliveuptothisfinereputation。Weknowthemforwhattheywere，andbeforethemonkeycageofanymenageriewecatchtruerglimpsesandhintsandresemblancesofwhatourancestorsreallywerelongandlongago。
Andbykilling，incessantkilling，bymakingashamblesoftheplanet，thoseape—likecreatureshavedevelopedevenintoyouandme。AsHenleyhassaidin\"TheSongoftheSword\"：
\"TheSwordSinging—
Drivingthedarkness，EvenasthebannersAndspearoftheMorning；
Siftingthenations，TheSlagfromthemetal，ThewasteandtheweakFromthefitandthestrong；
Fightingthebrute，TheabysmalFecundity；
CheckingthegrossMultitudinousblunders，Thegroping，thepurblindExcessesinserviceOftheWombuniversal，Theabsolutedrudge。\"
Astimepassedandmanincreased，hedriftedeverfartherafieldinsearchofroom。Heencounteredotherdriftsofmen，andthekillingofmenbecameprodigious。Theweakandthedecadentfellunderthesword。Nationsthatfaltered，thatwaxedprosperousinfatvalleysandrichriverdeltas，weresweptawaybythedriftsofstrongermenwhowerenourishedonthehardshipsofdesertsandmountainsandwhoweremorecapablewiththesword。Unknownandunnumberedbillionsofmenhavebeensodestroyedinprehistorictimes。DrapersaysthatinthetwentyyearsoftheGothicwar，Italylost15，000，000ofherpopulation；\"andthatthewars，famines，andpestilencesofthereignofJustiniandiminishedthehumanspeciesbythealmostincrediblenumberof100，000，000。\"
Germany，intheThirtyYears’War，lost6，000，000inhabitants。
TherecordofourownAmericanCivilWarneedscarcelyberecalled。
Andmanhasbeendestroyedinotherwaysthanbythesword。
Flood，famine，pestilenceandmurderarepotentfactorsinreducingpopulation——inmakingroom。AsMr。CharlesWoodruff，inhis\"ExpansionofRaces，\"hasinstanced：In1886，whenthedikesoftheYellowRiverburst，7，000，000peopleweredrowned。ThefailureofcropsinIreland，in1848，caused1，000，000deaths。
ThefaminesinIndiaof1896—7and1899—1900lessenedthepopulationby21，000，000。TheT’ai’pingrebellionandtheMohammedanrebellion，combinedwiththefamineof1877—78，destroyedscoresofmillionsofChinese。Europehasbeensweptrepeatedlybygreatplagues。InIndia，fortheperiodof1903to1907，theplaguedeathsaveragedbetweenoneandtwomillionsayear。Mr。Woodruffisresponsiblefortheassertionthat10，000，000personsnowlivingintheUnitedStatesaredoomedtodieoftuberculosis。Andinthissamecountrytenthousandpersonsayeararedirectlymurdered。InChina，betweenthreeandsixmillionsofinfantsareannuallydestroyed，whilethetotalinfanticiderecordofthewholeworldisappalling。InAfrica，now，humanbeingsaredyingbymillionsofthesleepingsickness。
Moredestructiveoflifethanwar，isindustry。Inallcivilisedcountriesgreatmassesofpeoplearecrowdedintoslumsandlabour—ghettos，wherediseasefesters，vicecorrodes，andfamineischronic，andwheretheydiemoreswiftlyandingreaternumbersthandothesoldiersinourmodernwars。TheveryinfantmortalityofaslumparishintheEastEndofLondonisthreetimesthatofamiddle—classparishintheWestEnd。IntheUnitedStates，inthelastfourteenyears，atotalofcoal—miners，greaterthanourentirestandingarmy，hasbeenkilledandinjured。TheUnitedStatesBureauofLabourstatesthatduringtheyear1908，therewerebetween30，000and35，000deathsofworkersbyaccidents，while200，000morewereinjured。Infact，thesafestplaceforaworking—manisinthearmy。Andevenifthatarmybeatthefront，fightinginCubaorSouthAfrica，thesoldierintherankshasabetterchanceforlifethantheworking—manathome。
Andyet，despitethisterriblerollofdeath，despitetheenormouskillingofthepastandtheenormouskillingofthepresent，thereareto—dayaliveontheplanetabillionandthreequartersofhumanbeings。Ourimmediateconclusionisthatmanisexceedinglyfecundandverytough。Neverbeforehavetherebeensomanypeopleintheworld。Inthepastcenturiestheworld’spopulationhasbeensmaller；inthefuturecenturiesitisdestinedtobelarger。Andthisbringsustothatoldbugbearthathasbeensofrequentlylaughedawayandthatstillpersistsinraisingitsgrislyhead——namely，thedoctrineofMalthus。Whileman’sincreasingefficiencyoffood—production，combinedwithcolonisationofwholevirgincontinents，hasforgenerationsgiventheapparentlietoMalthus’mathematicalstatementoftheLawofPopulation，neverthelesstheessentialsignificanceofhisdoctrineremainsandcannotbechallenged。PopulationDOESpressagainstsubsistence。Andnomatterhowrapidlysubsistenceincreases，populationiscertaintocatchupwithit。
Whenmanwasinthehuntingstageofdevelopment，wideareaswerenecessaryforthemaintenanceofscantpopulations。Withtheshepherdstages，themeansofsubsistencebeingincreased，alargerpopulationwassupportedonthesameterritory。Theagriculturalstagegavesupporttoastilllargerpopulation；and，to—day，withtheincreasedfood—gettingefficiencyofamachinecivilisation，anevenlargerpopulationismadepossible。Noristhistheoretical。Thepopulationishere，abillionandthreequartersofmen，women，andchildren，andthisvastpopulationisincreasingonitselfbyleapsandbounds。
AheavyEuropeandrifttotheNewWorldhasgoneonandisgoingon；yetEurope，whosepopulationacenturyagowas170，000，000，hasto—day500，000，000。Atthisrateofincrease，providedthatsubsistenceisnotovertaken，acenturyfromnowthepopulationofEuropewillbe1，500，000，000。AndbeitnotedofthepresentrateofincreaseintheUnitedStatesthatonlyone—thirdisduetoimmigration，whiletwo—thirdsisduetoexcessofbirthsoverdeaths。Andatthispresentrateofincrease，thepopulationoftheUnitedStateswillbe500，000，000inlessthanacenturyfromnow。
Man，thehungryone，thekiller，hasalwayssufferedforlackofroom。Theworldhasbeenchronicallyovercrowded。Belgiumwithher572personstothesquaremileisnomorecrowdedthanwasDenmarkwhenitsupportedonly500palaeolithicpeople。AccordingtoMr。Woodruff，cultivatedlandwillproduce1600timesasmuchfoodashuntingland。FromthetimeoftheNormanConquest，forcenturiesEuropecouldsupportnomorethan25tothesquaremile。
To—dayEuropesupports81tothesquaremile。TheexplanationofthisisthatfortheseveralcenturiesaftertheNormanConquestherpopulationwassaturated。Then，withthedevelopmentoftradingandcapitalism，ofexplorationandexploitationofnewlands，andwiththeinventionoflabour—savingmachineryandthediscoveryandapplicationofscientificprinciples，wasbroughtaboutatremendousincreaseinEurope’sfood—gettingefficiency。
Andimmediatelyherpopulationsprangup。
AccordingtothecensusofIreland，of1659，thatcountryhadapopulationof500，000。Onehundredandfiftyyearslater，herpopulationwas8，000，000。FormanycenturiesthepopulationofJapanwasstationary。Thereseemednowayofincreasingherfood—
gettingefficiency。Then，sixtyyearsago，cameCommodorePerry，knockingdownherdoorsandlettingintheknowledgeandmachineryofthesuperiorfood—gettingefficiencyoftheWesternworld。
Immediatelyuponthisriseinsubsistencebegantheriseofpopulation；anditisonlytheotherdaythatJapan，findingherpopulationonceagainpressingagainstsubsistence，embarked，swordinhand，onawestwarddriftinsearchofmoreroom。And，swordinhand，killingandbeingkilled，shehascarvedoutforherselfFormosaandKorea，anddriventhevanguardofherdriftfarintotherichinteriorofManchuria。
ForanimmenseperiodoftimeChina’spopulationhasremainedat400，000，000——thesaturationpoint。TheonlyreasonthattheYellowRiverperiodicallydrownsmillionsofChineseisthatthereisnootherlandforthosemillionstofarm。Andaftereverysuchcatastrophethewaveofhumanliferollsupandnowmillionsfloodoutuponthatprecariousterritory。Theyaredriventoit，becausetheyarepressedremorselesslyagainstsubsistence。ItisinevitablethatChina，soonerorlater，likeJapan，willlearnandputintoapplicationourownsuperiorfood—gettingefficiency。
Andwhenthattimecomes，itislikewiseinevitablethatherpopulationwillincreasebyunguessedmillionsuntilitagainreachesthesaturationpoint。Andthen，inoculatedwithWesternideas，mayshenot，likeJapan，takeswordinhandandstartforthcolossallyonadriftofherownformoreroom？Thisisanotherreputedbogie——theYellowPeril；yetthemenofChinaareonlymen，likeanyotherraceofmen，andallmen，downallhistory，havedriftedhungrily，here，thereandeverywhereovertheplanet，seekingforsomethingtoeat。Whatothermendo，maynottheChinesedo？
Butachangehaslongbeencomingintheaffairsofman。Themorerecentdriftsofthestrongerraces，carvingtheirwaythroughthelesserbreedstomoreearth—space，hasledtopeace，evertowiderandmorelastingpeace。Thelesserbreeds，underpenaltyofbeingkilled，havebeencompelledtolaydowntheirweaponsandceasekillingamongthemselves。Thescalp—talkingIndianandthehead—
huntingMelanesianhavebeeneitherdestroyedorconvertedtoabeliefinthesuperiorefficacyofcivilsuitsandcriminalprosecutions。Theplanetisbeingsubdued。Thewildandthehurtfulareeithertamedoreliminated。Fromthebeastsofpreyandthecannibalhumansdowntothedeath—dealingmicrobes，noquarterisgiven；anddaily，widerandwiderareasofhostileterritory，whetherofawarringdesert—tribeinAfricaorapestilentialfever—holelikePanama，aremadepeaceableandhabitableformankind。Asforthegreatmassofstay—at—homefolk，whatpercentageofthepresentgenerationintheUnitedStates，England，orGermany，hasseenwarorknowsanythingofwaratfirsthand？Therewasneversomuchpeaceintheworldasthereisto—day。
Waritself，theoldredanarch，ispassing。Itissafertobeasoldierthanaworking—man。Thechanceforlifeisgreaterinanactivecampaignthaninafactoryoracoal—mine。Inthematterofkilling，warisgrowingimpotent，andthisinfaceofthefactthatthemachineryofwarwasneversoexpensiveinthepastnorsodreadful。War—equipmentto—day，intimeofpeace，ismoreexpensivethanofoldintimeofwar。Astandingarmycostsmoretomaintainthanitusedtocosttoconqueranempire。Itismoreexpensivetobereadytokill，thanitusedtobetodothekilling。ThepriceofaDreadnoughtwouldfurnishthewholearmyofXerxeswithkillingweapons。And，inspiteofitsmagnificentequipment，warnolongerkillsasitusedtowhenitsmethodsweresimpler。Abombardmentbyamodernfleethasbeenknowntoresultinthekillingofonemule。Thecasualtiesofatwentiethcenturywarbetweentwoworld—powersaresuchastomakeaworkerinaniron—foundryturngreenwithenvy。Warhasbecomeajoke。Menhavemadeforthemselvesmonstersofbattlewhichtheycannotfaceinbattle。Subsistenceisgenerousthesedays，lifeisnotcheap，anditisnotinthenatureoffleshandbloodtoindulgeinthecarnagemadepossiblebypresent—daymachinery。Thisisnottheoretical，aswillbeshownbyacomparisonofdeathsinbattleandmeninvolved，intheSouthAfricanWarandtheSpanish—
AmericanWarontheonehand，andtheCivilWarortheNapoleonicWarsontheother。
Notonlyhaswar，byitsownevolution，rendereditselffutile，butmanhimself，withgreaterwisdomandhigherethics，isopposedtowar。Hehaslearnedtoomuch。Warisrepugnanttohiscommonsense。Heconceivesittobewrong，tobeabsurd，andtobeveryexpensive。Forthedamagewroughtandtheresultsaccomplished，itisnotworththeprice。Justasinthedisputesofindividualsthearbitrationofacivilcourtinsteadofabloodfeudismorepractical，so，mandecides，isarbitrationmorepracticalinthedisputesofnations。
Warispassing，diseaseisbeingconquered，andman’sfood—gettingefficiencyisincreasing。Itisbecauseofthesefactorsthatthereareabillionandthreequartersofpeoplealiveto—dayinsteadofabillion，orthree—quartersofabillion。Anditisbecauseofthesefactorsthattheworld’spopulationwillverysoonbetwobillionsandclimbingrapidlytowardthreebillions。
Thelifetimeofthegenerationisincreasingsteadily。Menlivelongerthesedays。Lifeisnotsoprecarious。Thenewborninfanthasagreaterchanceforsurvivalthanatanytimeinthepast。
Surgeryandsanitationreducethefatalitiesthataccompanythemischancesoflifeandtheravagesofdisease。Menandwomen，withdeficienciesandweaknessesthatinthepastwouldhaveeffectedtheirrapidextinction，liveto—dayandfatherandmotheranumerousprogeny。Andhighasthefood—gettingefficiencymaysoar，populationisboundtosoarafterit。\"Theabysmalfecundity\"oflifehasnotaltered。Giventhefood，andlifewillincrease。Asmallpercentageofthebillionandthree—quartersthatliveto—daymayhushtheclamouroflifetobeborn，butitisonlyasmallpercentage。Inthisparticular，thelifeintheman—animalisverylikethelifeintheotheranimals。
Andstillanotherchangeiscominginhumanaffairs。Thoughpoliticiansgnashtheirteethandcryanathema，andman，whosesuperficialbook—learningisvitiatedbycrystallisedprejudice，assuresusthatcivilisationwillgotosmash，thetrendofsociety，to—day，theworldover，istowardsocialism。Theoldindividualismispassing。Thestateinterferesmoreandmoreinaffairsthathithertohavebeenconsideredsacredlyprivate。Andsocialism，whenthelastwordissaid，ismerelyaneweconomicandpoliticalsystemwherebymoremencangetfoodtoeat。Inshort，socialismisanimprovedfood—gettingefficiency。
Furthermore，notonlywillsocialismgetfoodmoreeasilyandingreaterquantity，butitwillachieveamoreequitabledistributionofthatfood。Socialismpromises，foratime，togiveallmen，women，andchildrenalltheywanttoeat，andtoenablethemtoeatalltheywantasoftenastheywant。
Subsistencewillbepushedback，temporarily，anexceedinglylongway。Inconsequence，thefloodoflifewillriselikeatidalwave。Therewillbemoremarriagesandmorechildrenborn。Theenforcedsterilitythatobtainsto—dayformanymillions，willnolongerobtain。Norwillthefecundmillionsintheslumsandlabour—ghettos，whoto—daydieofalltheillsduetochronicunderfeedingandovercrowding，andwhodiewiththeirfecunditylargelyunrealised，dieinthatfuturedaywhentheincreasedfood—gettingefficiencyofsocialismwillgivethemalltheywanttoeat。
Itisundeniablethatpopulationwillincreaseprodigiously—justasithasincreasedprodigiouslyduringthelastfewcenturies，followingupontheincreaseinfood—gettingefficiency。Themagnitudeofpopulationinthatfuturedayiswellnighunthinkable。Butthereisonlysomuchlandandwateronthesurfaceoftheearth。Man，despitehismarvellousaccomplishments，willneverbeabletoincreasethediameteroftheplanet。Theolddaysofvirgincontinentswillbegone。Thehabitableplanet，fromice—captoice—cap，willbeinhabited。Andinthematteroffood—getting，asineverythingelse，manisonlyfinite。Undreamed—ofefficienciesinfood—gettingmaybeachieved，but，soonorlate，manwillfindhimselffacetofacewithMalthus’grimlaw。Notonlywillpopulationcatchupwithsubsistence，butitwillpressagainstsubsistence，andthepressurewillbepitilessandsavage。Somewhereinthefutureisadatewhenmanwillface，consciously，thebitterfactthatthereisnotfoodenoughforallofhimtoeat。
Whenthisdaycomes，whatthen？Willtherebearecrudescenceofoldobsoletewar？Inasaturatedpopulationlifeisalwayscheap，asitischeapinChina，inIndia，to—day。Willnewhumandriftstakeplace，questingforroom，carvingearth—spaceoutofcrowdedlife。WilltheSwordagainsing：
\"Follow，Ofollow，then，Heroes，myharvesters!
WherethetallgrainisripeThrustinyoursickles!
StrippedandadustInastubbleofempireScythingandbindingThefullsheavesofsovereignty。\"
Evenif，asofold，manshouldwanderhungrily，swordinhand，slayingandbeingslain，thereliefwouldbeonlytemporary。Evenifoneracealoneshouldhewdownthelastsurvivorofalltheotherraces，thatonerace，driftingtheworldaround，wouldsaturatetheplanetwithitsownlifeandagainpressagainstsubsistence。Andinthatday，thedeathrateandthebirthratewillhavetobalance。Menwillhavetodie，orbepreventedfrombeingborn。Undoubtedlyahigherqualityoflifewillobtain，andalsoaslowlydecreasingfecundity。Butthisdecreasewillbesoslowthatthepressureagainstsubsistencewillremain。Thecontrolofprogenywillbeoneofthemostimportantproblemsofmanandoneofthemostimportantfunctionsofthestate。Menwillsimplybenotpermittedtobeborn。
Disease，fromtimetotime，willeasethepressure。Diseasesareparasites，anditmustnotbeforgottenthatjustastherearedriftsintheworldofman，soaretheredriftsintheworldofmicro—organisms——hunger—questsforfood。Littleisknownofthemicro—organicworld，butthatlittleisappalling；andnocensusofitwilleverbetaken，forthereisthetrue，literal\"abysmalfecundity。\"Multitudinousasmanis，allhistotalityofindividualsisasnothingincomparisonwiththeinconceivablevastnessofnumbersofthemicro—organisms。Inyourbody，orinmine，rightnow，areswarmingmoreindividualentitiesthantherearehumanbeingsintheworldto—day。Itistousaninvisibleworld。Weonlyguessitsnearestconfines。Withourpowerfulmicroscopesandultramicroscopes，enlargingdiameterstwentythousandtimes，wecatchbuttheslightestglimpsesofthatprofundityofinfinitesimallife。
Littleisknownofthatworld，saveinageneralway。Weknowthatoutofitarisediseases，newtous，thatafflictanddestroyman。Wedonotknowwhetherthesediseasesaremerelythedrifts，inafreshdirection，ofalready—existingbreedsofmicro—
organisms，orwhethertheyarenew，absolutelynew，breedsthemselvesjustspontaneouslygenerated。Thelatterhypothesisistenable，forwetheorisethatifspontaneousgenerationstilloccursontheearth，itisfarmorelikelytooccurintheformofsimpleorganismsthanofcomplicatedorganisms。
Anotherthingweknow，andthatisthatitisincrowdedpopulationsthatnewdiseasesarise。Theyhavedonesointhepast。Theydosoto—day。Andnomatterhowwiseareourphysiciansandbacteriologists，nomatterhowsuccessfullytheycopewiththeseinvaders，newinvaderscontinuetoarise——newdriftsofhungrylifeseekingtodevourus。Andsowearejustifiedinbelievingthatinthesaturatedpopulationsofthefuture，whenlifeissuffocatinginthepressureagainstsubsistence，thatnew，andevernew，hostsofdestroyingmicro—
organismswillcontinuetoariseandflingthemselvesuponearth—
crowdedmantogivehimroom。Theremayevenbeplaguesofunprecedentedferocitythatwilldepopulategreatareasbeforethewitofmancanovercomethem。Andthisweknow：thatnomatterhowoftentheseinvisiblehostsmaybeovercomebyman’sbecomingimmunetothemthroughacruelandterribleselection，newhostswilleverariseofthesemicro—organismsthatwereintheworldbeforehecameandthatwillbehereafterheisgone。
Afterheisgone？Willhethensomedaybegone，andthisplanetknowhimnomore？Isitthitherthatthehumandriftinallitstotalityistrending？GodHimselfissilentonthispoint，thoughsomeofHisprophetshavegivenusvividrepresentationsofthatlastdaywhentheearthshallpassintonothingness。Nordoesscience，despiteitsradiumspeculationsanditsattemptedanalysesoftheultimatenatureofmatter，giveusanyotherwordthanthatmanwillpass。Sofarasman’sknowledgegoes，lawisuniversal。Elementsreactundercertainunchangeableconditions。
Oneoftheseconditionsistemperature。Whetheritbeinthetesttubeofthelaboratoryortheworkshopofnature，allorganicchemicalreactionstakeplaceonlywithinarestrictedrangeofheat。Man，thelatestoftheephemera，ispitifullyacreatureoftemperature，struttinghisbriefdayonthethermometer。Behindhimisapastwhereinitwastoowarmforhimtoexist。Aheadofhimisafuturewhereinitwillbetoocoldforhimtoexist。Hecannotadjusthimselftothatfuture，becausehecannotalteruniversallaw，becausehecannotalterhisownconstructionnorthemoleculesthatcomposehim。
ItwouldbewelltopondertheselinesofHerbertSpencer’swhichfollow，andwhichembody，possibly，thewildestvisionthescientificmindhaseverachieved：
\"MotionaswellasMatterbeingfixedinquantity，itwouldseemthatthechangeinthedistributionofMatterwhichMotioneffects，comingtoalimitinwhicheverdirectionitiscarried，theindestructibleMotionthereuponnecessitatesareversedistribution。Apparently，theuniversally—co—existentforcesofattractionandrepulsion，which，aswehaveseen，necessitaterhythminallminorchangesthroughouttheUniverse，alsonecessitaterhythminthetotalityofitschanges——producenowanimmeasurableperiodduringwhichtheattractiveforcespredominating，causeuniversalconcentration，andthenanimmeasurableperiodduringwhichtherepulsiveforcespredominating，causeuniversaldiffusion——alternateerasofEvolutionandDissolution。ANDTHUSTHEREISSUGGESTEDTHE
CONCEPTIONOFAPASTDURINGWHICHTHEREHAVEBEENSUCCESSIVE
EVOLUTIONSANALOGOUSTOTHATWHICHISNOWGOINGON；AFUTURE
DURINGWHICHSUCCESSIVEOTHEREVOLUTIONSMAYGOON——EVERTHESAME
INPRINCIPLEBUTNEVERTHESAMEINCONCRETERESULT。\"
Thatisit——themostweknow——alternateerasofevolutionanddissolution。Inthepasttherehavebeenotherevolutionssimilartothatoneinwhichwelive，andinthefuturetheremaybeothersimilarevolutions——thatisall。Theprincipleofalltheseevolutionsremains，buttheconcreteresultsarenevertwicealike。Manwasnot；hewas；andagainhewillnotbe。Ineternitywhichisbeyondourcomprehension，theparticularevolutionofthatsolarsatellitewecallthe\"Earth\"occupiedbutaslightfractionoftime。Andofthatfractionoftimemanoccupiesbutasmallportion。Allthewholehumandrift，fromthefirstape—mantothelastsavant，isbutaphantom，aflashoflightandaflutterofmovementacrosstheinfinitefaceofthestarrynight。
Whenthethermometerdrops，manceases——withallhislustsandwrestlingsandachievements；withallhisrace—adventuresandrace—tragedies；andwithallhisredkillings，billionsuponbillionsofhumanlivesmultipliedbyasmanybillionsmore。ThisisthelastwordofScience，unlesstherebesomefurther，unguessedwordwhichSciencewillsomedayfindandutter。Inthemeantimeitseesnofartherthanthestarryvoid，wherethe\"fleetingsystemslapselikefoam。\"Ofwhatledger—accountisthetinylifeofmaninavastnesswherestarssnuffoutlikecandlesandgreatsunsblazeforatime—tickofeternityandaregone？
Andforuswholive，noworsecanhappenthanhashappenedtotheearliestdriftsofman，markedto—daybyruinedcitiesofforgottencivilisation——ruinedcities，which，onexcavation，arefoundtorestonruinsofearliercities，cityuponcity，andfourteencities，downtoastratumwhere，stillearlier，wanderingherdsmendrovetheirflocks，andwhere，evenprecedingthem，wildhunterschasedtheirpreylongafterthecave—manandthemanofthesquatting—placecrackedtheknuckle—bonesofwildanimalsandvanishedfromtheearth。Thereisnothingterribleaboutit。
WithRichardHovey，whenhefacedhisdeath，wecansay：\"Behold!
Ihavelived!\"Andwithanotherandgreaterone，wecanlayourselvesdownwithawill。Theonedropofliving，theonetasteofbeing，hasbeengood；andperhapsourgreatestachievementwillbethatwedreamedimmortality，eventhoughwefailedtorealiseit。
SMALL—BOATSAILING
Asailorisborn，notmade。Andby\"sailor\"ismeant，nottheaverageefficientandhopelesscreaturewhoisfoundto—dayintheforecastleofdeepwaterships，butthemanwhowilltakeafabriccompoundedofwoodandironandropeandcanvasandcompelittoobeyhiswillonthesurfaceofthesea。Barringcaptainsandmatesofbigships，thesmall—boatsailoristherealsailor。Heknows——hemustknow——howtomakethewindcarryhiscraftfromonegivenpointtoanothergivenpoint。Hemustknowabouttidesandripsandeddies，barandchannelmarkings，anddayandnightsignals；hemustbewiseinweather—lore；andhemustbesympatheticallyfamiliarwiththepeculiarqualitiesofhisboatwhichdifferentiateitfromeveryotherboatthatwaseverbuiltandrigged。Hemustknowhowtogentleherabout，asoneinstanceofamyriad，andtofillherontheothertackwithoutdeadeningherwayorallowinghertofallofftoofar。
Thedeepwatersailorofto—dayneedsknownoneofthesethings。
Andhedoesn’t。Hepullsandhaulsasheisordered，swabsdecks，washespaint，andchipsiron—rust。Heknowsnothing，andcaresless。Puthiminasmallboatandheishelpless。Hewillcutanevenbetterfigureonthehurricanedeckofahorse。
Ishallneverforgetmychild—astonishmentwhenIfirstencounteredoneofthesestrangebeings。HewasarunawayEnglishsailor。Iwasaladoftwelve，withadecked—over，fourteen—foot，centre—boardskiffwhichIhadtaughtmyselftosail。Isatathisfeetasatthefeetofagod，whilehediscoursedofstrangelandsandpeoples，deedsofviolence，andhair—raisinggalesatsea。Then，oneday，Itookhimforasail。Withallthetrepidationoftheveriestlittleamateur，Ihoistedsailandgotunderway。Herewasaman，lookingoncritically，Iwassure，whoknewmoreinonesecondaboutboatsandthewaterthanIcouldeverknow。Afteraninterval，inwhichIexceededmyself，hetookthetillerandthesheet。Isatonthelittlethwartamidships，open—mouthed，preparedtolearnwhatrealsailingwas。Mymouthremainedopen，forIlearnedwhatarealsailorwasinasmallboat。Hecouldn’ttrimthesheettosavehimself，henearlycapsizedseveraltimesinsqualls，and，onceagain，byblunderinglyjibingover；hedidn’tknowwhatacentre—boardwasfor，nordidheknowthatinrunningaboatbeforethewindonemustsitinthemiddleinsteadofontheside；andfinally，whenwecamebacktothewharf，herantheskiffinfulltilt，shatteringhernoseandcarryingawaythemast—step。Andyethewasareallytrulysailorfreshfromthevastydeep。
Whichpointsmymoral。Amancansailintheforecastlesofbigshipsallhislifeandneverknowwhatrealsailingis。FromthetimeIwastwelve，Ilistenedtothelureofthesea。WhenIwasfifteenIwascaptainandownerofanoyster—piratesloop。BythetimeIwassixteenIwassailinginscow—schooners，fishingsalmonwiththeGreeksuptheSacramentoRiver，andservingassailorontheFishPatrol。AndIwasagoodsailor，too，thoughallmycruisinghadbeenonSanFranciscoBayandtheriverstributarytoit。Ihadneverbeenontheoceaninmylife。
Then，themonthIwasseventeen，Isignedbeforethemastasanableseamanonathree—top—mastschoonerboundonaseven—months’
cruiseacrossthePacificandbackagain。Asmyshipmatespromptlyinformedme，Ihadhadmynervewithmetosignonasableseaman。Yetbehold，IWASanableseaman。Ihadgraduatedfromtherightschool。Ittooknomorethanminutestolearnthenamesandusesofthefewnewropes。Itwassimple。Ididnotdothingsblindly。Asasmall—boatsailorIhadlearnedtoreasonoutandknowtheWHYofeverything。Itistrue，Ihadtolearnhowtosteerbycompass，whichtookmaybehalfaminute；butwhenitcametosteering\"full—and—by\"and\"close—and—by，\"Icouldbeattheaverageofmyshipmates，becausethatwastheverywayIhadalwayssailed。InsidefifteenminutesIcouldboxthecompassaroundandbackagain。Andtherewaslittleelsetolearnduringthatseven—months’cruise，exceptfancyrope—sailorising，suchasthemorecomplicatedlanyardknotsandthemakingofvariouskindsofsennitandrope—mats。Thepointofallofwhichisthatitisbymeansofsmall—boatsailingthattherealsailorisbestschooled。
Andifamanisabornsailor，andhasgonetotheschoolofthesea，neverinallhislifecanhegetawayfromtheseaagain。
Thesaltofitisinhisbonesaswellashisnostrils，andtheseawillcalltohimuntilhedies。Oflateyears，Ihavefoundeasierwaysofearningaliving。Ihavequittheforecastleforkeeps，butalwaysIcomebacktothesea。InmycaseitisusuallySanFranciscoBay，thanwhichnolustier，tougher，sheetofwatercanbefoundforsmall—boatsailing。
ItreallyblowsonSanFranciscoBay。Duringthewinter，whichisthebestcruisingseason，wehavesoutheasters，southwesters，andoccasionalhowlingnorthers。Throughoutthesummerwehavewhatwecallthe\"sea—breeze，\"anunfailingwindoffthePacificthatonmostafternoonsintheweekblowswhattheAtlanticCoastyachtsmenwouldnameagale。Theyarealwayssurprisedbythesmallspreadofcanvasouryachtscarry。Someofthem，withschoonerstheyhavesailedaroundtheHorn，havelookedproudlyattheirownloftysticksandhugespreads，thenpatronisinglyandevenpityinglyatours。Then，perchance，theyhavejoinedinaclubcruisefromSanFranciscotoMareIsland。TheyfoundthemorningrunuptheBaydelightful。Intheafternoon，whenthebravewestwindrampedacrossSanPabloBayandtheyfaceditonthelongbeathome，thingsweresomewhatdifferent。Onebyone，likeaflightofswallows，ourmoremeagrelysparredandcanvassedyachtswentby，leavingthemwallowinganddeadandshorteningdowninwhattheycalledagalebutwhichwecalledadandysailingbreeze。Thenexttimetheycameout，wewouldnoticetheirstickscutdown，theirboomsshortened，andtheirafter—
leechesnearertheluffsbywholecloths。
Asforexcitement，thereisallthedifferenceintheworldbetweenashipintroubleatsea，andasmallboatintroubleonland—lockedwater。Yetforgenuineexcitementandthrill，givemethesmallboat。Thingshappensoquickly，andtherearealwayssofewtodothework——andhardwork，too，asthesmall—boatsailorknows。Ihavetoiledallnight，bothwatchesondeck，inatyphoonoffthecoastofJapan，andbeenlessexhaustedthanbytwohours’workatreefingdownathirty—footsloopandheavinguptwoanchorsonaleeshoreinascreamingsouth—easter。
Hardworkandexcitement？Letthewindbaffleanddropinaheavytide—wayjustasyouaresailingyourlittlesloopthroughanarrowdraw—bridge。Beholdyoursails，uponwhichyouaredepending，flapwithsuddenemptiness，andthenseetheimpishwind，withahaulofeightpoints，fillyourjibabackwithagustypuff。Aroundshegoes，andsweeps，notthroughtheopendraw，butbroadsideonagainstthesolidpiles。Heartheroarofthetide，suckingthroughthetrestle。Andhearandseeyourpretty，fresh—paintedboatcrashagainstthepiles。Feelherstoutlittlehullgivetotheimpact。Seetherailactuallypinchin。Hearyourcanvastearing，andseetheblack，square—endedtimbersthrustingholesthroughit。Smash!Theregoesyourtopmaststay，andthetopmastreelsoverdrunkenlyaboveyou。
Thereisarippingandcrunching。Ifitcontinues，yourstarboardshroudswillbetornout。Grabarope——anyrope——andtakeaturnaroundapile。Butthefreeendoftheropeistooshort。Youcan’tmakeitfast，andyouholdonandwildlyyellforyouronecompaniontogetaturnwithanotherandlongerrope。Holdon!
Youholdontillyouarepurpleintheface，tillitseemsyourarmsaredraggingoutoftheirsockets，tillthebloodburstsfromtheendsofyourfingers。Butyouhold，andyourpartnergetsthelongerropeandmakesitfast。Youstraightenupandlookatyourhands。Theyareruined。Youcanscarcelyrelaxthecrooksofthefingers。Thepainissickening。Butthereisnotime。Theskiff，whichisalwaysperverse，ispoundingagainstthebarnaclesonthepileswhichthreatentoscrapeitsgunwaleoff。It’sdropthepeak!Downjib!Thenyourunlines，andpullandhaulandheave，andexchangeunpleasantremarkswiththebridge—tenderwhoisalwayswillingtomeetyoumorethanhalfwayinsuchrepartee。
Andfinally，attheendofanhour，withachingback，sweat—soakedshirt，andslaughteredhands，youarethroughandswingingalongontheplacid，beneficenttidebetweennarrowbankswherethecattlestandknee—deepandgazewonderinglyatyou。Excitement!
Work!Canyoubeatitinacalmdayonthedeepsea？
I’vetrieditbothways。Irememberlabouringinafourteendays’
galeoffthecoastofNewZealand。Wewereatrampcollier，rustyandbattered，withsixthousandtonsofcoalinourhold。Lifelineswerestretchedforeandaft；andonourweatherside，attachedtosmokestackguysandrigging，werehugerope—nettings，hungthereforthepurposeofbreakingtheforceoftheseasandsosavingourmess—roomdoors。Butthedoorsweresmashedandthemess—roomswashedoutjustthesame。Andyet，outofitall，arosebuttheonefeeling，namely，ofmonotony。
Incontrastwiththeforegoing，abouttheliveliesteightdaysofmylifewerespentinasmallboatonthewestcoastofKorea。
NevermindwhyIwasthusvoyaginguptheYellowSeaduringthemonthofFebruaryinbelow—zeroweather。ThepointisthatIwasinanopenboat，asampan，onarockycoastwheretherewerenolight—housesandwherethetidesranfromthirtytosixtyfeet。
MycrewwereJapanesefishermen。Wedidnotspeakeachother’slanguage。Yettherewasnothingmonotonousaboutthattrip。
NevershallIforgetoneparticularcoldbitterdawn，when，inthethickofdrivingsnow，wetookinsailanddroppedoursmallanchor。Thewindwashowlingoutofthenorthwest，andwewereonaleeshore。Aheadandastern，allescapewascutoffbyrockyheadlands，againstwhosebasesbursttheunbrokenseas。Towindwardashortdistance，seenonlybetweenthesnow—squalls，wasalowrockyreef。ItwasthisthatinadequatelyprotectedusfromthewholeYellowSeathatthunderedinuponus。
TheJapanesecrawledunderacommunalricematandwenttosleep。
Ijoinedthem，andforseveralhourswedozedfitfully。Thenaseadelugedusoutwithicywater，andwefoundseveralinchesofsnowontopthemat。Thereeftowindwardwasdisappearingundertherisingtide，andmomentbymomenttheseasbrokemorestronglyovertherocks。Thefishermenstudiedtheshoreanxiously。SodidI，andwithasailor’seye，thoughIcouldseelittlechanceforaswimmertogainthatsurf—hammeredlineofrocks。Imadesignstowardtheheadlandsoneitherflank。TheJapaneseshooktheirheads。Iindicatedthatdreadfulleeshore。Stilltheyshooktheirheadsanddidnothing。Myconclusionwasthattheywereparalysedbythehopelessnessofthesituation。Yetourextremityincreasedwitheveryminute，fortherisingtidewasrobbingusofthereefthatservedasbuffer。Itsoonbecameacaseofswampingatouranchor。Seasweresplashingonboardingrowingvolume，andwebaledconstantly。Andstillmyfishermencreweyedthesurf—batteredshoreanddidnothing。
Atlast，aftermanynarrowescapesfromcompleteswamping，thefishermengotintoaction。Allhandstailedontotheanchorandhoveitup。For’ard，astheboat’sheadpaidoff，wesetapatchofsailaboutthesizeofaflour—sack。Andweheadedstraightforshore。Iunlacedmyshoes，unbottonedmygreat—coatandcoat，andwasreadytomakeaquickpartialstripaminuteorsobeforewestruck。Butwedidn’tstrike，and，aswerushedin，Isawthebeautyofthesituation。Beforeusopenedanarrowchannel，frilledatitsmouthwithbreakingseas。Yet，longbefore，whenI
hadscannedtheshoreclosely，therehadbeennosuchchannel。I
HADFORGOTTENTHETHIRTY—FOOTTIDE。AnditwasforthistidethattheJapanesehadsoprecariouslywaited。Weranthefrillofbreakers，curvedintoatinyshelteredbaywherethewaterwasscarcelyflawedbythegale，andlandedonabeachwherethesaltseaofthelasttidelayfrozeninlongcurvinglines。Andthiswasonegaleofthreeinthecourseofthoseeightdaysinthesampan。Wouldithavebeenbeatenonaship？Ifearmetheshipwouldhavegoneagroundontheoutlyingreefandthatitspeoplewouldhavebeenincontinentlyandmonotonouslydrowned。
Thereareenoughsurprisesandmishapsinathree—days’cruiseinasmallboattosupplyagreatshipontheoceanforafullyear。
Iremember，once，takingoutonhertrialtripalittlethirty—
footerIhadjustbought。Insixdayswehadtwostiffblows，and，inaddition，onepropersouthwesterandoneripsnortingsoutheaster。Theslightintervalsbetweentheseblowsweredeadcalms。Also，inthesixdays，wewereagroundthreetimes。Then，too，wetieduptothebankintheSacramentoRiver，and，groundingbyanaccidentonthesteepslopeonafallingtide，nearlyturnedasidesomersaultdownthebank。InastarkcalmandheavytideintheCarquinezStraits，whereanchorsskateonthechannel—scouredbottom，weweresuckedagainstabigdockandsmashedandbumpeddownaquarterofamileofitslengthbeforewecouldgetclear。Twohoursafterward，onSanPabloBay，thewindwaspipingupandwewerereefingdown。Itisnofuntopickupaskiffadriftinaheavyseaandgale。Thatwasournexttask，forourskiff，swamping，partedbothtowingpainterswehadbenton。Beforewerecovereditwehadnearlykilledourselveswithexhaustion，andwecertainlyhadstrainedthesloopineverypartfromkeelsontotruck。Andtocapitall，comingintoourhomeport，beatingupthenarrowestpartoftheSanAntonioEstuary，wehadashaveofinchesfromcollisionwithabigshipintowofatug。Ihavesailedtheoceaninfarlargercraftayearatatime，inwhichperiodoccurrednosuchchapterofmovingincident。
Afterall，themishapsarealmostthebestpartofsmall—boatsailing。Lookingback，theyprovetobepunctuationsofjoy。Atthetimetheytryyourmettleandyourvocabulary，andmaymakeyousopessimisticastobelievethatGodhasagrudgeagainstyou——butafterward，ah，afterward，withwhatpleasureyourememberthemandwithwhatgustodoyourelatethemtoyourbrotherskippersinthefellowhoodofsmall—boatsailing!
Anarrow，windingslough；ahalftide，exposingmudsurfacedwithgangrenousslime；thewateritselffilthyanddiscolouredbythewastefromthevatsofanear—bytannery；themarshgrassoneithersidemottledwithalltheshadesofadecayingorchid；acrazy，ramshackled，ancientwharf；andattheendofthewharfasmall，white—paintedsloop。Nothingromanticaboutit。Nohintofadventure。Asplendidpictorialargumentagainsttheallegedjoysofsmall—boatsailing。PossiblythatiswhatCloudesleyandIthought，thatsombre，leadenmorningasweturnedouttocookbreakfastandwashdecks。Thelatterwasmystunt，butonelookatthedirtywateroversideandanotheratmyfresh—painteddeck，deterredme。Afterbreakfast，westartedagameofchess。Thetidecontinuedtofall，andwefeltthesloopbegintolist。Weplayedonuntilthechessmenbegantofallover。Thelistincreased，andwewentondeck。Bow—lineandstern—lineweredrawntaut。Aswelookedtheboatlistedstillfartherwithanabruptjerk。Thelineswerenowverytaut。
\"Assoonasherbellytouchesthebottomshewillstop，\"Isaid。
Cloudesleysoundedwithaboat—hookalongtheoutside。
\"Sevenfeetofwater，\"heannounced。\"Thebankisalmostupanddown。Thefirstthingthattoucheswillbehermastwhensheturnsbottomup。\"
Anominous，minutesnappingnoisecamefromthestern—line。Evenaswelooked，wesawastrandfrayandpart。Thenwejumped。
Scarcelyhadwebentanotherlinebetweenthesternandthewharf，whentheoriginallineparted。Aswebentanotherlinefor’ard，theoriginalonetherecrackledandparted。Afterthat，itwasaninfernoofworkandexcitement。
Weranmoreandmorelines，andmoreandmorelinescontinuedtopart，andmoreandmoretheprettyboatwentoveronherside。Webentalloursparelines；weunrovesheetsandhalyards；weusedourtwo—inchhawser；wefastenedlinespartwayupthemast，halfwayup，andeverywhereelse。WetoiledandsweatedandenouncedourmutualandsincereconvictionthatGod’sgrudgestillheldagainstus。Countryyokelscamedownonthewharfandsniggeredatus。WhenCloudesleyletacoilofropeslipdowntheinclineddeckintothevileslimeandfisheditoutwithseasickcountenance，theyokelssniggeredlouderanditwasallIcoulddotopreventhimfromclimbinguponthewharfandcommittingmurder。
Bythetimethesloop’sdeckwasperpendicular，wehadunbenttheboom—liftfrombelow，madeitfasttothewharf，and，withtheotherendfastnearlytothemast—head，heavedittautwithblockandtackle。Theliftwasofsteelwire。Wewereconfidentthatitcouldstandthestrain，butwedoubtedtheholding—powerofthestaysthatheldthemast。
Thetidehadtwomorehourstoebb（anditwasthebigrun—out），whichmeantthatfivehoursmustelapseerethereturningtidewouldgiveusachancetolearnwhetherornotthesloopwouldrisetoitandrightherself。
Thebankwasalmostupanddown，andatthebottom，directlybeneathus，thefast—ebbingtideleftapitofthevilest，illest—
smelling，illest—appearingmucktobeseeninmanyaday’sride。
SaidCloudesleytomegazingdownintoit：
\"Iloveyouasabrother。I’dfightforyou。I’dfaceroaringlions，andsuddendeathbyfieldandflood。Butjustthesame，don’tyoufallintothat。\"Heshudderednauseously。\"Forifyoudo，Ihaven’tthegrittopullyouout。Isimplycouldn’t。You’dbeawful。ThebestIcoulddowouldbetotakeaboat—hookandshoveyoudownoutofsight。\"
Wesatontheupperside—wallofthecabin，dangledourlegsdownthetopofthecabin，leanedourbacksagainstthedeck，andplayedchessuntiltherisingtideandtheblockandtackleontheboom—liftenabledustogetheronarespectablekeelagain。
Yearsafterward，downintheSouthSeas，ontheislandofYsabel，Iwascaughtinasimilarpredicament。Inordertocleanhercopper，IhadcareenedtheSnarkbroadsideontothebeachandoutward。Whenthetiderose，sherefusedtorise。Thewatercreptinthroughthescuppers，mountedovertherail，andtheleveloftheoceanslowlycrawleduptheslantofthedeck。Webatteneddowntheengine—roomhatch，andthesearosetoitandoveritandclimbedperilouslyneartothecabincompanion—wayandskylight。Wewereallsickwithfever，butweturnedoutintheblazingtropicsunandtoiledmadlyforseveralhours。Wecarriedourheaviestlinesashorefromourmast—headsandheavedwithourheaviestpurchaseuntileverythingcrackledincludingourselves。
Wewouldspelloffandliedownlikedeadmen，thengetupandheaveandcrackleagain。Andintheend，ourlowerrailfivefeetunderwaterandthewaveletslappingthecompanion—waycombing，thesturdylittlecraftshiveredandshookherselfandpointedhermastsoncemoretothezenith。
Thereisneverlackofexerciseinsmall—boatsailing，andthehardworkisnotonlypartofthefunofit，butitbeatsthedoctors。SanFranciscoBayisnomillpond。Itisalargeanddraughtyandvariegatedpieceofwater。Iremember，onewinterevening，tryingtoenterthemouthoftheSacramento。Therewasafreshetontheriver，thefloodtidefromthebayhadbeenbeatenbackintoastrongebb，andthelustywestwinddieddownwiththesun。Itwasjustsunset，andwithafairtomiddlingbreeze，deadaft，westoodstillintherapidcurrent。Weweresquarelyinthemouthoftheriver；buttherewasnoanchorageandwedriftedbackward，fasterandfaster，anddroppedanchoroutsideasthelastbreathofwindleftus。Thenightcameon，beautifulandwarmandstarry。Myonecompanioncookedsupper，whileondeckI
puteverythinginshapeBristolfashion。Whenweturnedinatnineo’clocktheweather—promisewasexcellent。（IfIhadcarriedabarometerI’dhaveknownbetter。）Bytwointhemorningourshroudswerethrumminginapipingbreeze，andIgotupandgavehermorescopeonherhawser。Insideanotherhourtherewasnodoubtthatwewereinforasoutheaster。
Itisnotnicetoleaveawarmbedandgetoutofabadanchorageinablackblowynight，butwearosetotheoccasion，putintworeefs，andstartedtoheaveup。Thewinchwasold，andthestrainofthejumpingheadseawastoomuchforit。Withthewinchoutofcommission，itwasimpossibletoheaveupbyhand。Weknew，becausewetrieditandslaughteredourhands。Nowasailorhatestoloseananchor。Itisamatterofpride。Ofcourse，wecouldhavebuoyedoursandslippedit。Instead，however，Igaveherstillmorehawser，veeredher，anddroppedthesecondanchor。
Therewaslittlesleepafterthat，forfirstoneandthentheotherofuswouldberolledoutofourbunks。Theincreasingsizeoftheseastoldusweweredragging，andwhenwestruckthescouredchannelwecouldtellbythefeelofitthatourtwoanchorswerefairlyskatingacross。Itwasadeepchannel，thefartheredgeofitrisingsteeplylikethewallofacanyon，andwhenouranchorsstartedupthatwalltheyhitinandheld。
Yet，whenwefetchedup，throughthedarknesswecouldheartheseasbreakingonthesolidshoreastern，andsonearwasitthatweshortenedtheskiff’spainter。
Daylightshowedusthatbetweenthesternoftheskiffanddestructionwasnomorethanascoreoffeet。Andhowitdidblow!Thereweretimes，inthegusts，whenthewindmusthaveapproachedavelocityofseventyoreightymilesanhour。Buttheanchorsheld，andsonoblythatourfinalanxietywasthatthefor’ardbittswouldbejerkedcleanoutoftheboat。Alldaythesloopalternatelyduckedhernoseunderandsatdownonherstern；
anditwasnottilllateafternoonthatthestormbrokeinonelastandworstmadgust。Forafullfiveminutesanabsolutedeadcalmprevailed，andthen，withthesuddennessofathunderclap，thewindsnortedoutofthesouthwest——ashiftofeightpointsandaboisterousgale。Anothernightofitwastoomuchforus，andwehoveupbyhandinacrosshead—sea。Itwasnotstiffwork。
Itwasheart—breaking。AndIknowwewerebothneartocryingfromthehurtandtheexhaustion。Andwhenwedidgetthefirstanchorup—and—downwecouldn’tbreakitout。Betweenseaswesnubbedhernosedowntoit，tookplentyofturns，andstoodclearasshejumped。Almosteverythingsmashedandpartedexcepttheanchor—hold。Thechockswerejerkedout，therailtornoff，andtheverycovering—boardsplintered，andstilltheanchorheld。Atlast，hoistingthereefedmain—sailandslackingoffafewofthehard—wonfeetofthechain，wesailedtheanchorout。Itwasnipandtuck，though，andthereweretimeswhentheboatwasknockeddownflat。Werepeatedthemanoeuvrewiththeremaininganchor，andinthegatheringdarknessfledintotheshelteroftheriver’smouth。
IwasbornsolongagothatIgrewupbeforetheeraofgasolene。
Asaresult，Iamold—fashioned。Ipreferasail—boattoamotor—
boat，anditismybeliefthatboat—sailingisafiner，moredifficult，andsturdierartthanrunningamotor。Gasoleneenginesarebecomingfool—proof，andwhileitisunfairtosaythatanyfoolcanrunanengine，itisfairtosaythatalmostanyonecan。Notso，whenitcomestosailingaboat。Moreskill，moreintelligence，andavastdealmoretrainingarenecessary。
Itisthefinesttrainingintheworldforboyandyouthandman。
Iftheboyisverysmall，equiphimwithasmall，comfortableskiff。Hewilldotherest。Hewon’tneedtobetaught。Shortlyhewillbesettingatinyleg—of—muttonandsteeringwithanoar。
Thenhewillbegintotalkkeelsandcentreboardsandwanttotakehisblanketsoutandstopaboardallnight。
Butdon’tbeafraidforhim。Heisboundtorunrisksandencounteraccidents。Remember，thereareaccidentsinthenurseryaswellasoutonthewater。Moreboyshavediedfromhot—houseculturethanhavediedonboatslargeandsmall；andmoreboyshavebeenmadeintostrongandreliantmenbyboat—sailingthanbylawn—croquetanddancing—school。
Andonceasailor，alwaysasailor。Thesavourofthesaltneverstales。Thesailornevergrowssooldthathedoesnotcaretogobackforonemorewrestlingboutwithwindandwave。Iknowitofmyself。Ihaveturnedrancher，andlivebeyondsightofthesea。
YetIcanstayawayfromitonlysolong。Afterseveralmonthshavepassed，Ibegintogrowrestless。Ifindmyselfday—dreamingoverincidentsofthelastcruise，orwonderingifthestripedbassarerunningonWingoSlough，oreagerlyreadingthenewspapersforreportsofthefirstnorthernflightsofducks。
Andthen，suddenly，thereisahurriedpackofsuit—casesandoverhaulingofgear，andweareoffforVallejowherethelittleRoamerlies，waiting，alwayswaiting，fortheskifftocomealongside，forthelightingofthefireinthegalley—stove，forthepullingoffofgaskets，theswingingupofthemainsail，andtherat—tat—tatofthereef—points，fortheheavingshortandthebreakingout，andforthetwirlingofthewheelasshefillsawayandheadsupBayordown。
JACKLONDON
OnBoardRoamer，SonomaCreek，April15，1911
FOURHORSESANDASAILOR
\"Huh!Drivefourhorses!Iwouldn’tsitbehindyou——notforathousanddollars——overthemmountainroads。\"
SosaidHenry，andheoughttohaveknown，forhedrivesfourhorseshimself。
SaidanotherGlenEllenfriend：\"What？London？Hedrivefourhorses？Can’tdriveone!\"
Andthebestofitisthathewasright。Evenaftermanagingtogetafewhundredmileswithmyfourhorses，Idon’tknowhowtodriveone。Justtheotherday，swingingdownasteepmountainroadandroundinganabruptturn，Icamefulltiltonahorseandbuggybeingdrivenbyawomanupthehill。Wecouldnotpassonthenarrowroad，wherewasonlyafoottospare，andmyhorsesdidnotknowhowtoback，especiallyup—hill。Abouttwohundredyardsdownthehillwasaspotwherewecouldpass。Thedriverofthebuggysaidshedidn’tdarebackdownbecauseshewasnotsureofthebrake。AndasIdidn’tknowhowtotackleonehorse，Ididn’ttryit。Soweunhitchedherhorseandbackeddownbyhand。Whichwasverywell，tillitcametohitchingthehorsetothebuggyagain。Shedidn’tknowhow。Ididn’teither，andIhaddependedonherknowledge。Ittookusabouthalfanhour，withfrequentdebatesandconsultations，thoughitisanabsolutecertaintythatneverinitslifewasthathorsehitchedinthatparticularway。
No；Ican’tharnessuponehorse。ButIcanfour，whichcompelsmetobackupagaintogettomybeginning。HavingselectedSonomaValleyforourabidingplace，CharmianandIdecideditwasabouttimeweknewwhatwehadinourowncountyandtheneighbouringones。Howtodoit，wasthefirstquestion。Amongourmanyweaknessesistheoneofbeingold—fashioned。Wedon’tmixwithgasoleneverywell。And，astruesailorsshould，wenaturallygravitatetowardhorses。Beingoneofthoseluckyindividualswhocarrieshisofficeunderhishat，Ishouldhavetotakeatypewriterandaloadofbooksalong。Thisputsaddle—
horsesoutoftherunning。Charmiansuggesteddrivingaspan。
Shehadfaithinme；besides，shecoulddriveaspanherself。ButwhenIthoughtofthemanymountainstocross，andofcrossingthemforthreemonthswithapoortiredspan，Ivetoedthepropositionandsaidwe’dhavetocomebacktogasoleneafterall。
Thisshevetoedjustasemphatically，andadeadlockobtaineduntilIreceivedinspiration。
\"Whynotdrivefourhorses？\"Isaid。
\"Butyoudon’tknowhowtodrivefourhorses，\"washerobjection。
Ithrewmychestoutandmyshouldersback。\"Whatmanhasdone，I
cando，\"Iproclaimedgrandly。\"Andpleasedon’tforgetthatwhenwesailedontheSnarkIknewnothingofnavigation，andthatI
taughtmyselfasIsailed。\"
\"Verywell，\"shesaid。（Andthere’sfaithforyou!）\"Theyshallbefoursaddlehorses，andwe’llstrapoursaddlesonbehindtherig。\"
Itwasmyturntoobject。\"Oursaddlehorsesarenotbrokentoharness。\"
\"Thenbreakthem。\"
AndwhatIknewabouthorses，muchlessaboutbreakingthem，wasjustaboutasmuchasanysailorknows。Havingbeenkicked，buckedoff，fallenoverbackwardupon，andthrownoutandrunover，onverynumerousoccasions，Ihadamightyvigorousrespectforhorses；butawife’sfaithmustbelivedupto，andIwentatit。
KingwasapoloponyfromSt。Louis，andPrinceamany—gaitedlove—horsefromPasadena。Thehardestthingwastogetthemtodiginandpull。Theyrollickedalongonthelevelsandgallopeddownthehills，butwhentheystruckanup—gradeandfelttheweightofthebreaking—cart，theystoppedandturnedaroundandlookedatme。ButIpassedthem，andmytroublesbegan。Mildawasfourteenyearsold，anunadulteratedbroncho，andintemperamentwasacombinationofmuleandjack—rabbitblendedequally。Ifyoupressedyourhandonherflankandtoldhertogetover，shelaydownonyou。Ifyougotherbytheheadandtoldhertoback，shewalkedforwardoveryou。Andifyougotbehindherandshovedandtoldherto\"Giddap!\"shesatdownonyou。Also，shewouldn’twalk。ForendlesswearymilesIstrovewithher，butnevercouldIgethertowalkastep。Finally，shewasamanger—glutton。Nomatterhownearorfarfromthestable，whensixo’clockcamearoundsheboltedforhomeandnevermissedthedirectestcross—road。ManytimesIrejectedher。
ThefourthandmostrejectedhorseofallwastheOutlaw。Fromtheageofthreetosevenshehaddefiedallhorse—breakersandbrokenanumberofthem。Thenalong，lankycowboy，withafifty—
poundsaddleandaMexicanbithadgotherproudgoat。Iwasthenextowner。Shewasmyfavouriteridinghorse。CharmiansaidI’dhavetoputherinasawheelerwhereIwouldhavemorecontroloverher。NowCharmianhadafavouriteridingmarecalledMaid。
IsuggestedMaidasasubstitute。Charmianpointedoutthatmymarewasabrandedrangehorse，whileherswasanear—
thoroughbred，andthatthelegsofhermarewouldberuinedforeverifsheweredrivenforthreemonths。Iacknowledgedhermare’sthoroughbredness，andatthesametimedefiedhertofindanythoroughbredwithassmallanddelicately—viciouslypointedearsasmyOutlaw。SheindicatedMaid’sexquisitelythinshinbone。ImeasuredtheOutlaw’s。Itwasequallythin，although，Iinsinuated，possiblymoredurable。ThisstabbedCharmian’spride。Ofcoursehernear—thoroughbredMaid，carryingthebloodof\"old\"Lexington，Morella，andastreakofthesuper—
enduringMorgan，couldrun，walk，andworkmyunregisteredOutlawintotheground；andthatwastheveryprecisereasonwhysuchaparagonofasaddleanimalshouldnotbedegradedbyharness。
SoitwasthatCharmianremainedobdurate，until，oneday，IgotherbehindtheOutlawforaforty—miledrive。ForeveryinchofthosefortymilestheOutlawkickedandjumped，inbetweenthekicksandjumpsfindingtimeandspaceinwhichtoseizeitsteam—
matebythebackoftheneckandattempttodragittotheground。
AnothertricktheOutlawdevelopedduringthatdrivewassuddenlytoturnatrightanglesinthetracesandendeavourtobuttitsteam—mateoverthegrade。ReluctantlyandnoblydidCharmiangiveinandconsenttotheuseofMaid。TheOutlaw’sshoeswerepulledoff，andshewasturnedoutonrange。
Finally，thefourhorseswerehookedtotherig——alightStudebakertrap。Withtwohoursandahalfofpractice，inwhichtheexcitementwasnotabatedbyseveraljack—polesandnumerouskickingmatches，Iannouncedmyselfasreadyforthestart。Camethemorning，andPrince，whowastohavebeenawheelerwithMaid，showedupwithabadlykickedshoulder。Hedidnotexactlyshowup；wehadtofindhim，forhewasunabletowalk。Hislegswelledandcontinuallyswelledduringtheseveraldayswewaitedforhim。RemainedonlytheOutlaw。Infrompastureshecame，shoeswerenailedon，andshewasharnessedintothewheel。
Friendsandrelativesstrovetopressaccidentpoliciesonme，butCharmianclimbedupalongside，andNakatagotintotherearseatwiththetypewriter——Nakata，whosailedcabin—boyontheSnarkfortwoyearsandwhohadshownhimselfafraidofnothing，notevenofmeandmyamateurjamboreesinexperimentingwithnewmodesoflocomotion。Andwedidverynicely，thankyou，especiallyafterthefirsthourorso，duringwhichtimetheOutlawhadkickedaboutfiftyvarioustimes，chieflytothedamageofherownlegsandthepaintwork，andaftershehadbittenacoupleofhundredtimes，tothedamageofMaid’sneckandCharmian’stemper。Itwashardenoughtohaveherfavouritemareintheharnesswithoutalsoenduringthespectacleofitsbeingeatenalive。
Ourleaderswerejoys。KingbeingapoloponyandMildaarabbit，theyroundedcurvesbeautifullyanddartedaheadlikecoyotesoutofthewayofthewheelers。Milda’sbesettingweaknesswasafranticdesirenottohavethelead—barstrikeherhocks。Whenthishappened，oneofthreethingsoccurred：eithershesatdownonthelead—bar，kickeditupintheairuntilshegotherbackunderit，orexplodedinastraight—ahead，harness—disruptingjump。Notuntilshecarriedthelead—barcleanawayanddancedabreak—downonitandthetraces，didshebehavedecently。NakataandImadetherepairswithgoodold—fashionedbale—rope，whichisstrongerthanwrought—ironanytime，andwewentonourway。
InthemeantimeIwaslearning——Ishallnotsaytotoolafour—in—
hand——butjustsimplytodrivefourhorses。Nowitisallrightenoughtobeginwithfourwork—horsespullingaloadofseveraltons。Buttobeginwithfourlighthorses，allrunning，andalightrigthatseemstooutrunthem——well，whenthingshappentheyhappenquickly。Myweaknesswastotalignorance。Inparticular，myfingerslackedtraining，andImadethemistakeofdependingonmyeyestohandlethereins。Thisbroughtmeupagainstadisastrousopticalillusion。Thebightoftheoffhead—line，beinglongerandheavierthanthatoftheoffwheel—line，hunglower。Inamomentrequiringquickaction，Iinvariablymistookthetwolines。PullingonwhatIthoughtwasthewheel—line，inordertostraightentheteam，Iwouldseetheleadersswingabruptlyaroundintoajack—pole。Nowforsensationsofsheerimpotence，nothingcancomparewithajack—pole，whenthehorrifieddriverbeholdshisleadersprancinggailyuptheroadandhiswheelersjoggingsteadilydowntheroad，allatthesametimeandallharnessedtogetherandtothesamerig。
Inolongerjack—pole，andIdon’tmindadmittinghowIgotoutofthehabit。Itwasmyeyesthatenslavedmyfingersintoillpractices。SoIshutmyeyesandletthefingersgoitalone。
To—daymyfingersareindependentofmyeyesandworkautomatically。Idonotseewhatmyfingersdo。Theyjustdoit。
AllIseeisthesatisfactoryresult。
Stillwemanagedtogetoverthegroundthatfirstday——downsunnySonomaValleytotheoldtownofSonoma，foundedbyGeneralVallejoastheremotestoutpostonthenorthernfrontierforthepurposeofholdingbacktheGentiles，asthewildIndiansofthosedayswerecalled。Herehistorywasmade。HerethelastSpanishmissionwasreared；heretheBearflagwasraised；andhereKitCarson，andFremont，andallourearlyadventurerscameandrestedinthedaysbeforethedaysofgold。
Weswungonoverthelow，rollinghills，throughmilesofdairyfarmsandchickenrancheswhereeveryblessedheniswhite，anddowntheslopestoPetalumaValley。Here，in1776，CaptainQuiroscameupPetalumaCreekfromSanPabloBayinquestofanoutlettoBodegaBayonthecoast。Andhere，later，theRussians，withAlaskanhunters，carriedskinboatsacrossfromFortRosstopoachforsea—ottersontheSpanishpreserveofSanFranciscoBay。
Here，too，stilllater，GeneralVallejobuiltafort，whichstillstands——oneofthefinestexamplesofSpanishadobethatremaintous。Andhere，attheoldfort，tobringthechronicleuptodate，ourhorsesproceededtomakepeculiarlypersonalhistorywithastonishingsuccessanddispatch。King，ourpeerless，polo—ponyleader，wentlame。Sohopelesslylamedidhegothatnoexpert，thenandafterward，coulddeterminewhetherthelamenesswasinhisfrogs，hoofs，legs，shoulders，orhead。Maidpickedupanailandbegantolimp。Milda，figuringthedayalreadysufficientlyspentandmaniacalwithmanger—gluttony，begantorabbit—jump。
Allthatheldherwasthebale—rope。AndtheOutlaw，gametothelast，exceededallpreviousexhibitionsofskin—removing，paint—
marring，andhorse—eating。
AtPetalumawerestedoverwhileKingwasreturnedtotheranchandPrincesenttous。NowPrincehadprovedhimselfanexcellentwheeler，yethehadtogointotheleadandlettheOutlawretainhisoldplace。Thereisanaxiomthatagoodwheelerisapoorleader。Iobjecttothelastadjective。Agoodwheelermakesaninfinitelyworsekindofaleaderthanthat。Iknow……now。I
oughttoknow。SincethatdayIhavedrivenPrinceafewhundredmilesinthelead。Heisneitheranybetternoranyworsethanthefirstmileheraninthelead；andhisworstisevenextremelyworsethanwhatyouarethinking。Notthatheisvicious。Heismerelyagood—naturedroguewhoshakeshandsforsugar，stepsonyourtoesoutofsheerexcessivefriendliness，andjustgoesonlovingyouinyourharshestmoments。
Buthewon’tgetoutoftheway。Also，wheneverheisreprovedforbeinginthewrong，heaccusesMildaofitandbitesthebackofherneck。SobadhasthisbecomethatwheneverIyell\"Prince!\"inaloudvoice，Mildaimmediatelyrabbit—jumpstotheside，straightahead，orsitsdownonthelead—bar。Allofwhichisquitedisconcerting。Pictureityourself。Youareswingingroundasharp，down—grade，mountaincurve，atafasttrot。Therockwallistheoutsideofthecurve。Theinsideofthecurveisaprecipice。Thecontinuanceofthecurveisanarrow，unrailedbridge。Youhitthecurve，throwingtheleadersinagainstthewallandmakingthepolo—horsedothework。Allislovely。Theleadersarehuggingthewalllikenestlingdoves。Butthemomentcomesintheevolutionwhentheleadersmustshootoutahead。
Theyreallymustshoot，orelsethey’llhitthewallandmissthebridge。Also，behindthemarethewheelers，andtherig，andyouhavejusteasedthebrakeinordertoputsufficientsnapintothemanoeuvre。Ifeverteam—workisrequired，nowisthetime。Mildatriestoshoot。Shedoesherbest，butPrince，bubblingoverwithroguishness，lagsbehind。Heknowsthetrick。Mildaishalfalengthaheadofhim。Hetimesittothefractionofasecond。
Maid，inthewheel，over—runninghim，naturallybiteshim。ThisdisturbstheOutlaw，whohasbeenbehavingbeautifully，andsheimmediatelyreachesacrossforMaid。Simultaneously，withafinedisplayoffirmconvictionthatit’sallMilda’sfault，PrincesinkshisteethintothebackofMilda’sdefencelessneck。Thewholethinghasoccurredinlessthanasecond。Underthesurpriseandpainofthebite，Mildaeitherjumpsaheadtotheimminentperilofharnessandlead—bar，orsmashesintothewall，stopsshortwiththelead—baroverherback，andemitsacoupleofhystericalkicks。TheOutlawinvariablyselectsthismomenttoremovepaint。Andafterthingsareuntangledandyouhavehadtimetoappreciatethecloseshave，yougouptoPrinceandreprovehimwithyourchoicestvocabulary。AndPrince，gazelle—
eyedandtender，offerstoshakehandswithyouforsugar。I
leaveittoanyone：aboatwouldneveractthatway。
WehavesomehistorynorthoftheBay。Nearlythreecenturiesandahalfago，thatdoughtypirateandexplorer，SirFrancisDrake，combingthePacificforSpanishgalleons，anchoredinthebightformedbyPointReyes，onwhichto—dayisoneoftherichestdairyregionsintheworld。Here，lessthantwodecadesafterDrake，SebastienCarmenonpiledupontherockswithasilk—ladengalleonfromthePhilippines。AndinthissamebayofDrake，longafterward，theRussianfur—poachersrendezvous’dtheirbidarkasandstoleinthroughtheGoldenGatetotheforbiddenwatersofSanFranciscoBay。
Fartherupthecoast，inSonomaCounty，wepilgrimagedtothesitesoftheRussiansettlements。AtBodegaBay，southofwhatto—dayiscalledRussianRiver，wastheiranchorage，whilenorthoftherivertheybuilttheirfort。AndmuchofFortRossstillstands。Log—bastions，church，andstablesholdtheirown，andsowell，withrustyhingescreaking，thatwewarmedourselvesatthehundred—years—olddoublefireplaceandsleptunderthehand—hewnroofbeamsstillheldtogetherbyspikesofhand—wroughtiron。
Wewenttoseewherehistoryhadbeenmade，andwesawsceneryaswell。Oneofourstretchesinaday’sdrivewasfrombeautifulInvernessonTomalesBay，downtheOlemaValleytoBolinasBay，alongtheeasternshoreofthatbodyofwatertoWillowCamp，andupoverthesea—bluffs，aroundthebastionsofTamalpais，anddowntoSausalito。FromtheheadofBolinasBaytoWillowCampthedriveontheedgeofthebeach，andactually，forhalf—milestretches，inthewatersofthebayitself，wasadelightfulexperience。Thewonderfulpartwastocome。VeryfewSanFranciscans，muchlessCalifornians，knowofthatdrivefromWillowCamp，tothesouthandeast，alongthepoppy—blowncliffs，withtheseathunderinginthesheerdepthshundredsoffeetbelowandtheGoldenGateopeningupahead，disclosingsmokySanFranciscoonhermanyhills。Faroff，blurredonthebreastofthesea，canbeseentheFarallones，whichSirFrancisDrakepassedonaS。W。courseinthethickofwhathedescribesasa\"stynkingfog。\"Wellmighthecallitthat，andafewothernames，foritwasthefogthatrobbedhimofthegloryofdiscoveringSanFranciscoBay。
ItwasonthispartofthedrivethatIdecidedatlastIwaslearningrealmountain—driving。Toconfessthetruth，fordelicioustitillationofone’snerve，Ihavesincedrivenovernomountainroadthatwasworse，orbetter，rather，thanthatpiece。
Andthenthecontrast!FromSausalito，overexcellent，park—likeboulevards，throughthesplendidredwoodsandhomesofMillValley，acrosstheblossomedhillsofMarinCounty，alongtheknoll—studdedpicturesquemarshes，pastSanRafaelrestingwarmlyamongherhills，overthedivideandupthePetalumaValley，andontothegrassyfeetofSonomaMountainandhome。Wecoveredfifty—fivemilesthatday。Notsobad，eh，forPrincetheRogue，thepaint—removingOutlaw，thethin—shankedthoroughbred，andtherabbit—jumper？Andtheycameincoolanddry，readyfortheirmangersandthestraw。
Oh，wedidn’tstop。Weconsideredwewerejuststarting，andthatwasmanyweeksago。Wehavekeptongoingoversixcountieswhicharecomfortablylarge，evenforCalifornia，andwearestillgoing。Wehavetwistedandtabled，criss—crossedourtracks，madefascinatingandlengthydivesintotheinteriorvalleysintheheartsofNapaandLakeCounties，travelledthecoastforhundredsofmilesonend，andarenowinEureka，onHumboldtBay，whichwasdiscoveredbyaccidentbythegold—seekers，whoweretryingtofindtheirwaytoandfromtheTrinitydiggings。Evenhere，thewhiteman’shistoryprecededthem，fordimtraditionsaysthattheRussiansonceanchoredhereandhuntedsea—otterbeforethefirstYankeetraderroundedtheHorn，orthefirstRockyMountaintrapperthirstedacrossthe\"GreatAmericanDesert\"andtrickleddownthesnowySierrastothesun—kissedland。No；wearenotrestingourhorseshereonHumboldtBay。Wearewritingthisarticle，gorgingonabalonesandmussels，diggingclams，andcatchingrecord—breakingsea—troutandrock—codintheintervalsinwhichwearenotsailing，motor—boating，andswimminginthemosttemperatelyequableclimatewehaveeverexperienced。