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236 evidence of the violence of the storms. The terrible truth was now laid open to them. Placed at a distance of nearly five hundred miles from Swan River, the nearest point of refuge, they possessed only about nine days' salt meat and sixty pounds of flour, and had nothing bub whale boats, rowed by oars, in which to contend against the sea on a stormy and unknown coast, where they were unable to land without being exposed to the attacks of armed natives. Grey then requested Mr. Smith to see the little flour that was left in the barrel and on the rocks carefully collected. Leaving them thus engaged, "I then," he says in his touching narrative, "turned back along the sea-shore towards the party, glad of the opportunity of being alone, as I could now commune freely with my own thoughts; and as the safety of the whole party now depended upon my forming a prompt and efficient plan of operations, and seeing it carried out with energy and perseverance." He finally resolved to attempt reaching Swan River without delay by the coasts; and after composing his thoughts by reading a portion of his Bible, he rejoined his party, and disclosed to them the unfortunate state of things. Blank dismay was visible in every face. Two men, in desperation, ran to the small store of food, and endeavoured to appropriate it; but their vigilant commander had observed them, and they were checked. None objected to pushing on for Swan River at once, and on the 22nd of March they set out in their boats. Storms raged almost incessantly. A spirit of despair seized on some of them; and on one occasion a man set the dangerous example of refusing to work any longer, as it seemed useless, but the firmness of the commander prevailed.