The coracle , left to herself , turning from side to side , threaded , so to speak , her way through these lower parts and avoided the steep slopes and higher , toppling summits of the wave . `` Well , now , '' thought I to myself , `` it is plain I must lie where I am and not disturb the balance ; but it is plain also that I can put the paddle over the side and from time to time , in smooth places , give her a shove or two towards land . '' No sooner thought upon than done . There I lay on my elbows in the most trying attitude , and every now and again gave a weak stroke or two to turn her head to shore . It was very tiring and slow work , yet I did visibly gain ground ; and as we drew near the Cape of the Woods , though I saw I must infallibly miss that point , I had still made some hundred yards of easting . I was , indeed , close in . I could see the cool green tree-tops swaying together in the breeze , and I felt sure I should make the next promontory without fail . It was high time , for I now began to be tortured with thirst . The glow of the sun from above , its thousandfold reflection from the waves , the sea-water that fell and dried upon me , caking my very lips with salt , combined to make my throat burn and my brain ache . The sight of the trees so near at hand had almost made me sick with longing , but the current had soon carried me past the point , and as the next reach of sea opened out , I beheld a sight that changed the nature of my thoughts . Right in front of me , not half a mile away , I beheld the HISPANIOLA under sail . I made sure , of course , that I should be taken ; but I was so distressed for want of water that I scarce knew whether to be glad or sorry at the thought , and long before I had come to a conclusion , surprise had taken entire possession of my mind and I could do nothing but stare and wonder . The HISPANIOLA was under her main-sail and two jibs , and the beautiful white canvas shone in the sun like snow or silver . When I first sighted her , all her sails were drawing ; she was lying a course about north-west , and I presumed the men on board were going round the island on their way back to the anchorage . Presently she began to fetch more and more to the westward , so that I thought they had sighted me and were going about in chase . At last , however , she fell right into the wind 's eye , was taken dead aback , and stood there awhile helpless , with her sails shivering . `` Clumsy fellows , '' said I ; `` they must still be drunk as owls . '' And I thought how Captain Smollett would have set them skipping . Meanwhile the schooner gradually fell off and filled again upon another tack , sailed swiftly for a minute or so , and brought up once more dead in the wind 's eye . Again and again was this repeated .
To and fro , up and down , north , south , east , and west , the XXXXX sailed by swoops and dashes , and at each repetition ended as she had begun , with idly flapping canvas .
HISPANIOLA Smollett burn coracle first left main-sail promontory right summits