The threatheing [threatening] storm was now upon us, but being protected by our tent we felt quite secure. It began to rain about dark and as the southeast wind, which by the way, is our storm wind, had been increasing in violence since early morning was now blowing a gale, all afternoon the sea had been growing wilder and now it was terrific outside and the surf was pounding and roaring like distant thunder.
We had secured everything snug for the night and retired to our tent which was dimly lighted by a lantern hung from the ridge pole of the tent.
Some of the boys were playing cards while others amused themselves with music, as we had with us two violins and a guitar, but our amusements were soon put away as the storm were [was] drowning our voices, we soon retired for the night, but it was many hours before we fell asleep.
On awakening next morning, the storm was still with us and raining even with greater force than the evening before. It continued to rain steadily for 3 days and it became almost impossible to cook, as our wood supply became so thoroughly soaked that to build a fire was nearly out of the question, what we did succeed in making, was built within the tent and while we were using it to cook by, wet wood was laid around it to dry, what it would, otherwise it would have been impossible to have had a fire by any means. Our tent was a sight to behold, smoke and ashes had ruined what was ruinable and eyes was [were] all but out, as we could only dodge out of the tent for a moment to get a breath when we was [were] forced back again by the rain, so a fire was only lighted once a day to make a pot of coffee and roast a piece of venison which one of the boys had brought in the day the storm hit us. I do not think l even put a more disagreeable time than I did those three days.
Late in the afternoon of the third day it stopped raining at intervals and we took advantage of these breathing spells to run over the stretch of sand and have a look at the ocean. It was while returning from one of these trips that we out of curiosity followed the pond shore, and it was lucky we did for our reaching the lake or pond, we found it was 3 times its natural size and still rising fast. Why we had not looked at the river side of our camp earlier in the day, I know not and it bringing the only source of danger that was likely to cause us trouble, and then to overlook it until it was upon us, with open jaws. “But such is boys stupidity.” It is just such occurrences that puts mind and forethought into boys to draw out the making of men and to teach them to overlook nothing.
In life’s successful road, the one main feature is caution and I never knew how much the word meant until I took this wonderful trip.
Big Sur…NEXT