He took two Spaniards with him--one
Jacinto de Lanzacorta, who had married there; the other Alferez
Pena--both devotees of San Nicolas de Tolentino as no less was the
owner of the champan, which he had commended to that saint. As they
were coming in the boat one night, aided by the vendaval, and as they
neared Ilagan (one of the longest crossings that voyagers have to make
there), the wind strengthened so that the waves rolled sky-high. Either
through the carelessness of the steersman, or because the rudder was
out of order, or the sea too heavy, the rudder parted atwain, and the
boat was without other help than that of heaven. For these Sangley
boats are flat bottomed, and the mast is very high; accordingly, all
the strength lies in the rudder by which they are directed--better
than the best bitted horse is governed. The champan tossed fearfully,
so that it was regarded as a good plan to cut down the mast. That was
a precaution that the Sangleys do not practice, and hence the sea
easily swallows them. This being done, the champan was very quiet;
and, although they were in evident danger of death, they did not lose
the hopes which they placed in the glorious saint, confident, by his
intercession, of life and arrival at Panay.
Pages:
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176