Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/267

] We kept tacking, chiefly under our top-sails, during the whole night, endeavouring to keep company with our consort. It was necessary that we should be able, mutually, to communicate the dangers to which we might be exposed, on a coast bordered with shelves and rocks, hitherto unexplored by navigators.

20th. During the night, the currents brought us back to the reefs which we believed we had doubled. We stood towards the land, when daylight fortunately showed us all the danger of our situation. We were surrounded with reefs, and had but little room to beat about. The wind at south-south-east, freshened and increased the waves, which were carrying us towards the breakers; and we were in the midst of the danger, when the Esperance pointed it out to us by a signal. Rossel then commanded on the quarter-deck. Immediately we trimmed up the sails on the starboard tack, in order to extricate her from this dangerous position. The Esperance had succeeded in this manœuvre, and we had the pleasure to see her clear of the danger, and standing towards the west.

Our bell was now rung to summon all hands on deck, in order to be more sure of success. Four times did Rossel fail in his manœuvre, and every attempt did but bring us nearer to the dan- ger.