low tide.

In company with the regular row-boat ferry I crossed, the next day, the
broad bay to the mainland eight miles distant, where the canoe was put
upon a cart and taken across the peninsula five miles to Cherrystone,
the only point near Cape Charles at which a Norfolk steamer stopped for
passengers. It was fully forty miles across Chesapeake Bay from
Cherrystone Landing to Norfolk, and it was imperative to make the
portage from this place instead of from Cape Charles, which, though more
than fifteen miles further south, and nearer to my starting-point on the
other side, did not possess facilities for transportation. The slow
one-horse conveyance arrived at Cherrystone half an hour _after_ the
steamer N. P. Banks had left the landing, though I heard that the
kind-hearted captain, being told I was coming, waited and whistled for
me till his patience was exhausted.

The only house at the head of the pier was owned by Mr. J. P. Powers,
and fortunately offered hotel accommodations. Here I remained until the
next trip of the boat, December 4. Arriving in Norfolk at dusk of the
same day, I stored my canoe in the warehouse of the Old Dominion
Steamship Company, and quietly retired to an hotel which promised an
early meal in the morning, congratulating myself the while that I had
avoided the usual show of curiosity tendered to canoeists at city piers,
and above all had escaped the inevitable reporter. Alas! my thankfulness
came too soon; for when about to retire, my name was called, and a
veritable reporter from the Norfolk Landmark cut off my retreat.

"Only a few words," he pleadingly whispered. "I've been hunting for you
all over the city since seven o'clock, and it is near midnight now."

He gently took my arm and politely furnished me with a chair. Then
placing his own directly before me, he insinuatingly worked upon me
until he derived a knowledge of the log of the Paper Canoe, when leaning
back in his chair he leisurely surveyed me and exclaimed:

"Mr. Bishop, you are a man of _snap_. We like men of snap; we
admire men of snap; in fact, I may say we _cotton_ to men of
snap, and I am proud to make your acquaintance. Now if you
will stop over a day we will have the whole city out to see
your boat."

This _kind_ offer I firmly refused, and we were about to part, when he
said in a softly rebuking manner:

"You thought, Mr. Bishop, you would give us the slip--did you
not? I assure you