Abreast of Lopez Point, I saw what gave me more courage in regard to boating than anything that had yet came to me as it was still a mystery to me how much our boats would endure, and why they did not swamp when encountering the many <crise ire> choppy seas we were at times compelled to ride into. But when out here on the lonely deep many miles from shore, we hailed and spoke a solitary fisherman who I judged to be a Mexican, who’s boat was almost square and flat bottom drawing not more than 3 or 4 inches of water and made of redwood board roughly jointed or nailed together and the few minutes we detained him, he was obliged to bail out his boat several times. I looked around at our trim <slainch> easy swaying Lusitanias and at felt absolutely safe. If such a makeshift could and did <plared> the choppy sea that we were beginning to feel, and which is always encountered abreast any point of land, I knew we were perfectly safe with our heavy cargoed boats. He asked us for tobacco and giving us such information as we asked for and bailing again he rowed away, saying as he did so, that he thought it was time to take in his lines and head for shore as it looked like a blow might overtake him if he lingered much longer.

The wind did spring up from the southwest and was to our relief and advantage in helping us as it was blowing directly into the cove where we were intending to land.

As we neared the shore in the last 2 miles of our run, I was unable to see where there was even a ghost of a change for a landing if we were to land anywhere near in the direction we were headed. For the mountains were becoming almost sheer bluffs and a head of us could be seen to the right and left from where we were steering nothing but the white line of breakers with no trace of a sandy beach. I kept my silence, but nevertheless was becoming anxious, for as far as I could see, it was going to be impossible to get ashore.

Another mile soon passed, and still no sign of a sandy beach. I had noticed for some minutes though, by getting a line from the bow of the boat the shore, that we were heading dead into, two very large rocks, which was heretofore so much like in appearance to the main shore and steep mountains that we were within 3 or 4 hundred yards of shore before they could be distinguished as huge rocks, standing somewhat apart from the mainland. I concluded at last that this must be out goal. When just outside of the breakers, Jack signaled the other boats to come up, which they did, and got their instructions for landing. As they pulled cautiously toward the narrow space between these two portals, I gazed with wonder on the wonderful sight of towering mountains which seemed to be immediately in front of us, and reach in sheer precipices thousands of feet high, where could we ever find space enough to make even a bed or cook our meals in this rocky bluff of brown, caused by the low sage and chaparral brush which grew on the steep mountain sides was more than I could tell. Many thousands of feet about and miles inward from shore I did see some timber but only the tops, over the bluff at the water’s edge. Still I held my peace, and guessed, wondered, and worried. The last of the two boats had landed safe, and as they were to helpers as our boat was to[o] large and heavy to try to land first, and it would be a calamity to have had an accident and loose provisions in this hole with no chance of replenishing them inside of 30 miles at the best and there from <launsher?rancher>, we always sent in the lighter boats first to assist the large boat to land safely. It now came our turn to run the gauntlet. Jack used particular caution on this occasion. Standing up in the stern with his paddle ready for <instance> use, “Urging us now, gently forward”, now to back water with all our strength, “again, hold her steady, ahead very slowly.” While he was eying the rollers astern with a quick and eager eye. At last on going over what I thought would surely swamp us, He yelled “pull, give me help boys”, himself setting instantly in his seat began to assist with his steering paddle, we rose now on a large swell and the order came Hold steady for a moment boys and we could feel the boat being out run by the swell and just as she began to settle the last might, Jack yelled again now pull, it our last chance, and believe me we pulled, and being just in the right position, we were slid swiftly and safely into the hands of our four comrades who stood knee deep in the surf to receive us the the water receded, we were left high and dry on a little sandy beach not over 200 ft long, directly between those two large rocks I had seen when far out at sea.

All was bustle now for perhaps half hour or so longer unloading the boats as it was impossible to drag them up out of the reach of high water while loaded. After securing our boats we in turn gathered up what articles was needed for making our camp and walking through and over sane that was piled up in the form of a levee, we descend into Paradise.

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