Page T birty-Six

Sketching Possibilities as Seen
in the North By Sybil Hill

AKE a friend of the owner of a forty foot cruiser, wangle an invi-
tation for a week’s trip and be off! Clear blue sky, glittering
sunlight; quiet, deep water, the chug-a-chug of the motor, distant islands,
shining jewels of colored rock and greenery. “Tis good to have a friend!
Sea gulls play idly around the stern, rocking gently in the wash, soaring
and splashing. Four thin black fins wave peacefully far away, they
vanish and shining black huge finned backs are flashing and tumbling,
whirling and spraying on either side of the craft. They're gone!
moment to drink the excitement still in the air and then
forward to the “skipper” to try a turn at the wheel. We're heading for
a white spot way at the extreme end of a long point. Logs come floating
by; sea-weed; a white foam breaking ahead makes us call the skipper
in a hurry. He gently explains the difference between a tide-rip and a

Pause for a

shoal.
Lunch time and we’re pushing thro’ a narrow cut—a sheer rock cliff

high on one side—an island of bed-rock and twisted growing trees on
the other. We've taken a permanent position at the elbow of the pilot.
We beg him to stop here for lunch but he grins and yarns tremendously
about deep-sea fishing canneries, boats, storms, wrecks. Later, we find
the tide going out so quickly that it’s nip and tuck if we're to be hung
up on the shallows. Again we're in deep water and a slight breeze has
given the water a ripple. Out goes the anchor—'tis luncheon!

The breeze has freshened our ripple to a choppy sea before we're
Rolling white clouds break the sky, our skin throbs with the

off again.
cold fresh air. We find a blanket and roll up in the lee of a hatch and @

glory—glory—glory !

Sunset—and the beauty is agonizing in its color intensity. We're —
among immense mountains of rock falling straight down into living gold |
green water. A slim flying shadow appears on its surface, an eagle soar- 7
ing high, the cause. Before the last light leaves a dark head slides into 4
sight and slowly—slowly, a young seal finds rest on the rocks.

Supper over—strange sea stories, legends of native Indians, fills pipe

after pipe without the knowledge of its owner. We roll into bed, our
nst the boat. —

last sleepy sensation the swushing of the water as it plays agai