our hands being fully engaged, to keep her from striking. Betwixt two and three hours we continued thus, in constant and unceasing effort, till at length we were somewhat relieved by getting a spring on the cable, on which I held for an hour longer, whilst Erwin and Badcock fixed the boathooks. The wind was blowing hard during the whole time, with increasing blasts at intervals, and the surge was furiously dashing about us. For more than four hours together had we thus to contemplate the probability of our destruction; and if our lives should be saved, yet now, separated from our companions, all our provisions gone, if left on shore, helpless and destitute, and at the mercy of the natives, the prospect was not pleasing. Were such my thoughts? They might have crossed my mind. But they were not my thoughts; my thoughts were altogether different. The grace of God so strongly supported me, that I felt not the least alarm, and was all along confident that we should again get off in safety. Indeed, I could not help thinking that I was too insensible to our danger, and too little affected by it. Certain, however, it was, that not a struggle nor one emotion of fear occurred to me. I felt that, whatever the result might be, all would be well, for God had the ordering of this, as well as of any other circumstance which should betide us. Poor Erwin, as yet a stranger to the grace of God, gave way to passionate paroxysms of grief, not on account of any

danger to himself, but on account of the apprehended loss of our boat, and the injury we all, as well as the mission itself, would sustain thereby. Dear fellow! his feelings reflected honor upon him, as well as his unparallelled exertions. After remaining in our dangerous position the time before specified, a lull occurred in the wind, and we thought it a good opportunity to make an effort to get out, and push round the rocks into open water. It was, however, a most critical juncture, and presented certain destruction if we failed. Falling down before God, we sought his direction and help in prayer, and upon rising from our knees immediately proceeded to cut the chain cable; but, not succeeding in this, we let it go altogether. And now, although destruction appeared inevitable, the swell launching us broadside with great force in the direction of the rocks; yet, by the mercy of God, the danger was averted, and, after exerting ourselves to the uttermost, we found ourselves outside the rocks and round the point. Here again another difficulty presented itself. Our rudder had been unshipped and carried away, and, before we could get any command of the boat, the wind and tide drifted us against the opposite small island, Round Island, when we had again to make strenuous efforts with our boat-hooks. Hardly had we escaped this when we touched some sunken rocks and shoal water, but were again mercifully preserved. On getting free, we took the only alter

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native left us, and ran aground on the shelving beach of Garden Island. Now, thank God, there was rest for the soles of our wearied feet. We hauled up the boat, and gave God praise. Happily at the time no natives appeared. Had they been present and witnessed our distress, humanly speaking we should have been altogether in their power, and in all probability must have fallen victims to their cupidity. But the providence of God was over us. The Lord is our shield. It was late in the day when we got here, and now, without any hope of seeing our companions this day, the wind being strong and against their putting back, we passed the night, sleeping very soundly till the time of high water, about three in the morning, when the boat was again afloat, and we once more got her into Banner Cove.

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Friday the 20th passed, and we saw nothing of our companions till past midnight, when we were aroused from sleep by their shouting and rattling against our boat. How happy were we to see them returned and safe! They too had their difficulties. After losing sight of us they had proceeded, thinking we should soon follow them, and after surveying several entrances on the north shore, had found an excellent harbour about twenty miles from Banner Cove, which Captain Gardiner named Blomefield Harbour, after Sir Thomas Blomefield, former secretary to our Society. Here they passed the night, remaining till the weather afforded them

a hope of returning to seek after us. Shortly after our separation they lost both dingies which they were towing astern, the heavy swell having snapped the chain by which they were fastened. They found the boat not altogether fitted for sea, at least for rough weather, having no scuttle on her fore hatchway, and leaking greatly from one of the bolt-holes in the knee of the bulk-head, which added much to their perplexities. Captain Gardiner was, however, highly gratified in having found a harbour so excellently adapted for us as he deemed Blomefield Harbour to be, where he thought there was every facility to complete the fittings-up of our boat, and to overhaul the Pioneer for her leak, and likewise, as no natives were seen, where we might deposit our ample stores.

"Bent upon this, we again set out in company at about ten o'clock, on Saturday the 21st. The morning was very fine, with light breezes, but against us; so that, when in Beagle Channel, we had to tack about all day long, and made but little way. However, all was very pleasant, and we kept in company until the evening, when our boat, the Speedwell, got considerably ahead, and we at length lost sight of the Pioneer. We stood on our course, and, by the directions given, we got abreast of the entrance to Blomefield Harbour. Surprised, however, at the delay in the Pioneer coming up with us, we kept cruising about during the night, and seeing nothing at all of them, we in our turn became

alarmed for their safety. Accordingly, about six in the morning, a fine breeze springing up in favor of our return, we put back for Banner Cove, hoping they might have returned there. Abreast of the Cove we at first saw no indication of them, and were just in the act of standing out again for sea, thinking that somehow or other they must have passed us in the night, and got before us into the harbour, when Badcock got sight of the boat masts and a flag flying at the top of one of them. She was but just visible, and we were greatly puzzled to account for her position, as well as alarmed at seeing her as we thought disastrously stranded. We got up to her as speedily as possible. Blessed be God! our first salutation from Captain Gardiner was, 'All is right, but had you not come, all would have been wrong.' They had put back on account of the light wind, to pass the night in our old locality, and had entered by Cook's Passage, but the tide, on ebbing, had receded further than was expected, and had left them aground. A large party of the natives had come back to Tent Cove, and had been harassing them much. Just as our boat hove in sight they were mustering their forces, and our little party fully expected an attack; but if they had any such intention, our coming caused them to abandon it. Early in the morning the natives had quite taken our friends by surprise, and being ashore, they clambered up into the boat without there being any possibility of preventing