Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/480

 '418 SURVEY O1 THE IRTERTROPICAL lmx prom:hat it, we found our fears had been ground-  sl. less, and that they were occasioned by no less innOCent an enemy than a half-censumed log of wood, in the heart of which a fire had bern lying dormant for some days, having been lighted by the fires which had lately passed over the country; it had been fanned into a /lame by the land.breezs which sprung up at mi&nlght. The light seen in the early part of the night originated, most likely, from a slmi!M' catme; so that we returned to th vessel without further apprehension.  The following day all our wet and dry pr visions, our wood and guns were landed; and the greater number of the crew slept on shore. A discovery of great importax was this day made, which enabled us to carry on our opem. fions with much greater facility and comfort; this was our fi!lding near the tents some deep holes, containing a great abundance of excellent water; so that by emptying our water.imsks, we avoided the trouble and delay of hoisting them out: our operatJoRs were, hi consequence, so much expe- dited, that the next morning, at high tide, the vessel was warped and secured as far up the beach as the water wuld allow, preparatory to her taking the ground, which event we awe/ted with eimsiderable anxiety.

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