Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/227

 “We were fortunately upon a part of the coast where the tides had a sufficient rise and fall to enable us to lay her on shore without difficulty; but the beaches in York Sound and Prince Frederick’s Harbour were all too steep for the purpose. The spring tides were now at hand; and, it being on this account very important that it should be done as speedily as possible, I left the cutter the following morning in search of a convenient place, in which I was fortunately very soon successful; for, at the bottom of the port (Nelson) in which we had anchored, we landed on the sandy beach of a bay which, to my inexpressible satisfaction, was found in every way suitable for the object we had in view. Deferring, therefore, any further examination for a more convenient opportunity, I hastened on board, and, in the course of the morning (Sept. 21st), anchored the cutter close to the beach. The sails, being sent on shore, were suspended to trees and converted into tents, for the preservation of our provisions and stores, and for habitations for the officers and crew. The following day all our wet and dry provisions, our wood and guns, were landed, and the greater part of the crew slept on shore. The next morning, at high tide, the vessel was warped and secured as far up the beach as the water would allow, preparatory to her taking the ground, which event we awaited with considerable anxiety. When the tide left her dry, we proceeded to examine her bottom; and having stripped the copper off the stern-post, the full extent of the injury she had sustained was detected, and found to be greater even than our fears had anticipated. The after-part of the keel was rent for two feet in an horizontal direction, and its connexion with the stern-post and garboard streak so much weakened that, at the first impression, there was every reason to fear we could not remedy the defects sufficiently to ensure even an immediate return to Port Jackson; but when the full extent of our means were considered, it was thought not only possible to repair the injury, but to do it so effectually as to permit our completing the voyage according to our original intention.

“In order to connect the keel and stern-post, both of which were almost separated from the frame of the vessel, two bolts, each twenty-four inches long, were driven up obliquely through the keel, and two of the same size horizontally through the stern-post, into the dead wood; besides which, they were also united by a stout iron brace, which was fitted under the keel, and up each side of the stern post; by which method the injury appeared to be so well repaired, that we had no fears for our safety if the weather should be but moderately fine.

“These repairs were completed by the 28th; but, just as we were congratulating ourselves upon having performed them, a fresh defect was discovered, which threatened more alarming consequences even than the other: upon stripping off some sheets of copper, the spike nails, which fastened the planks, were found to be decaying; and many were so entirely decomposed by oxidation, that a straw was easily thrust through the vacant holes. As we had not nails enough to replace the whole of the copper, for