Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 2.djvu/107

Rh on fcuttliiig ilie deck, as alfo of the good efieft of their judicious hibours. Other holes were now bored immediately over the beds, and after pour- ing down large quantities of water, they foon had reafon to be grate- fully thankful to divine Providence for fo timely and critical a prefer- vation. Some of the bcrls were intirely confumed ; a cafe on which they were laid, as alfo the deck over them, >vere burnt fome way into the wood to a black cinder. Little elfc was flowed with thefe beds but rum and oil ; fo that had the fire once broke out into a blaze, the extinguifhing it, or preventing its communication with ihefe inflammable fubftanccs, would have been morally impoiTiblc, and thv-^ir deflruftion would ha'c been inevitable.

The fire thus providentially difcovered and happib' extlnguifhcd, all the bedding, being either burnt or rotten, was got up and thrown over- board. Fearful of drifting too far to leeward, they were obliged to make fail in order to work into the Bay, although the decks at this time were very much encumbered. Many of the natives were about the fliip, employed in picking up the rotten bedding that had been thrown into the fea. At eleven in the forenoon they anchored near their former Ha- tion. The natives had taken away the buoy, but had faftened a piece of wood to the buoy-rope, which anfwcred all the purpofes of recover- ing their anchor ; this was foon effefted, and the fhip Readied with the kedge anchor to the fouthward ; the fouth point of the Bay bearing by compafs S.W., the north point n.w., and the watering place k. by n, one mile diftant. The vilb j-^ in the fouth cove bring the ncarcll lliore, was at the diflance of about a quarter of a mile.

In the afternoon Mr. Hergeft in the cutter, attended by the fecojid mate in the long boat, went to procure water, and landed with the mate and three men, though not without much difficulty on account of the furf. This did not permit them to put more than two cafks on fliore. Many of the natives were affembled, and in confcquence of there being no chief amongH; them were foon found to be very troublefome, as tluy dole every thing they could make off with, fo that not a bucket was left them to fill the calks with water. Mr. HcrgoO, finding that his pnriv on fliorc would require confiderable reinforcement to clfc6l liis purpod*, was 87 1709. December.