to do, and that was to reach the island before his strength
gave out entirely and before the boat shipped enough water
to become unmanageable. His back seemed almost broken
and his arms quite lifeless; his head throbbed and his eyes
seemed on fire; but still he . pulled. Near the 'island were
many projecting ledges and sharp rocks and as he ap
proached the shore the danger increased. When near the
beach a receding wave dropped ' the boat with a thud on a
hidden rock: it swung around and tipped on one side, an
other wave tore it away and, dashing it against another
rock, turned it completely over. Cameron was severely
bruised among the rocks, but the water was not deep and he
reached the shore, where he sank on the beach completely
exhausted.
The boat floated to the shore with a hole in her bottom.
But after recovering Cameron succeeded in stopping the
leak sufficiently for the return journey, which was accom
plished without accident. On the return the wind was a
help and it was only necessary to keep the boat headed in
the right direction.
Why was Howard Cameron so anxious to reach Loon
Island that he was willing to risk his life in this manner?
It was a very simple reason indeed. A woman had ex
pressed a wish for a specimen of a certain rare fern which
grew on the island, and this was the last chance he would
have to procure it, for next day he would return to the city.