Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/268

246 ger. We were driving towards the reefs, where the waves, ready to ingulph us, rose to a prodigious height. We could not cast anchor; for no bottom was to be found with fifty fathoms of line, although we were close to the rocks. Each of us was looking eagerly for the means of escaping death, which seemed almost inevitable. At last the ship touched, when, by unexpected good fortune, the fifth attempt succeeded, and we had the unspeakable satisfaction of seeing the ship remove from the danger.

Between the reefs and the land were some little islands, distant above 5,000 toises from the coast.

The land of New Caledonia, which was low towards its southern extremity, now began to rise into mountains of moderate elevation, in a south-east and north-west direction, inclining a little farther towards the north.

When, at the approach of night, we were going about, the top-men had forgotten to change the booms of the main-yard, and the mizen top-sail yard; and they were both broken, the moment we went upon the other tack. The first fell over-board; but the other, in its fall, wounded three people, among whom was the Commander of the expedition.

21st. We stood out to sea, and there remained during the night, and in the morning we steered for