Page:Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World in the Years 1791–95, volume 1.djvu/440

Rh r'.iman, luid his arm unforlunatcly fra6lured. By noon, the liold was rc-llowed, and the (iiip, in every rcfped, ready again to proceed.

A light breeze fpringingup From the s.w. about one o'cloek, we were again under fail, and knowing of no fufer ehaniul, wc (hreded our courfe through that before us, along the continental fhore. This was a narrow paflage, and as we advanced, became more intricate by an increafed number of rocky illcts and rocks, as well beneath, as above the furfacc of the water ; the former being afecrtained by the furf breaking with fome violence upon them. This dangerous navigation (eemed to continue as far as was difcernible towards the ocean, between the fliore of the continent and the land forming the oppofite fide of the channel, whicii appeared to be an extenfive range of illands.

Having so recently been preferved from the dangers of a mofl perilous fituation, the fcene before us, in prefenting a profpc61 of many such snares, was extremely difeouraging. We had, however, not the lead hope of finding a lefs difficult way for the execution of th c adventurous fervice in which we were engaged ; nor auN alternative but to proceed with all the pofFible circumfpedion and caution that the nature of our fituation would permit, through a channel not more than half a mile wide, bounded on one fide by iflands, rocks, and breakers, which in fome places appeared almofl: to meet the continental fhore on the other. However intricate, this apparently was the only navigable channel in the neighbourhood. About five in the afternoon we had fortunately escaped through its narrowed part ; the wind now became light and baffling; the ebb tide fat us towards the ocean, where we now had a view of ilie dif- tant horizon, although intercepted by the fame rocky region that surrounded us in every dire6lion. About fix o'clock some of its hidden dangers arrefted the progrefs of the Chatham. We indantly anchored in 70 fathoms water, and fent our boats to her afiiflance. Thus, before we had recovered from the fatiguing exertions and anxious folicitude of one diftrefiing night, the endurance of a fimilar calamity was our portion for the next.

I had lefs reafon at firfl; to hope for the prefervation of the Chatham under the circumftances of her difafler, than I had the preceding night for