Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/315

 topted by area c, which connected the islets on ither side of us; being thus erahayed, we were obliged to anchor, but as the wind was light, no danger was anticipated. Mr. Roe was sent in boat to sound ebout our anchorage:on his r turn, he reported the water to be of tolerably even depth,, excepting to the southward, where them was a spit, on which the least water was four and .three quarters fithoms. beyond which it dponed As the nigh clvanl, the wind freshe.ned from the S.E. and ndered our situation remely uns'e. nu the tide mle the wind, the swell rose and ul our only re- mining anchor to drag; more ble was instantl �er; but a the vsel did not bring up, and we were drifdng toward the reef, no lernative i bu to weigh and kep under ii whi, duug a long and dk night, and nea so en- ive a ref, w nmning grat risk. Our los of anchors was now much flt, �or no sooner were we unde sail than the wind died wa; and, from the heavy swell, e cutter wa so ungovernable, thai the vessel twice missed stas in endeavour- ing o ek in hol water; forunay the water deepened  on nding on, or noin ould le preen,d our going on hore. After Digitized by Goog[�

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