Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/514

  URVEY OF THE INTER?ROP!(AL s0. lcrity, that the sails were kept full; so that by m.  her not losing way, she cleared the rock before the succeeding wave flowed from under her, and the next moment a flash of lightning shewed to our almost unbelieving eyes that we had passed the extremity of the rocks and were in safety; This sudden deliverance from the brink of destruction was quite unexpected by all on board our little vessel, and drew from us a spontaneous acknow- ledgement of gratitude to the only source from whence our .providential escape could be attri- buted. It was now doubtful whether we could clear the point under our lee which we first saw, but as the next flash of lightning shewed that we were between the heads of Botany Bay, and that the point on which we had nearly ben wrecked was, according to Capti, Hunter's plan, Cape .Banks, its northern head, we bore up, and, in half an hour, were safe at anchor. Daylight now broke, and with it the weather bgan to get worse, so that we were obliged to remain at this anchorage, which was on the south side of the bay near Point Sutherland, until the next morning; when we got under sail, and anchored near the opposite shore, under the guard-house, from which the soldiers supplied us with some refreshments.

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