Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

CHAPTER V. Lieutenant ShoU arrives — Beagle returns — Loss of the Saxe Cobourg sealer — Captain Stokes goes to Fury Harbour to save her crew Beagle's proceedings — Bougainville's memorial — Cordova's memorial — Beagle's danger — Difficulties — Captain Stokes's boat-cruize — Pas- sages — Natives — Dangerous service — Western entrance of the Strait of Magalhaens — Hope's cruize — Prepare to return to Monte Video. The Beagle's time of absence had expired on the 1st of April, and our anxiety, more excited by our recent loss, was becoming painful. I detained the Hope from going vipon a service for which she was prepared, in case she might be required to search for our consort : but on the 6th a strange whale-boat was descried pulling towards us from the southward, in which we soon distinguished Lieut. ShoU. His appearance, under such circumstances, of course raised fears for the Beagle's safety ; but, on approaching, his gratifying shout, "all's well !" at once removed anxiety. Mr. Sholl informed me, that the Beagle had picked up a boat, belonging to the schooner ' Prince of Saxe Cobourg, wrecked in Fury Harbour, at the south entrance of the Bar- bara Channel ; and that she had put into Port Gallant, whence Captain Stokes had gone with the boats to assist the Sealers, leaving Lieut. Skyring on board. The safety of the Beagle being established, I despatched Mr. Graves, in the Hope, to examine some openings between the Magdalen Channel and the Dos Hermanos of Bougainville. Several days earlier than I expected, the Beagle made her appearance, and Captain Stokes soon gave me the agreeable intelligence of having succeeded in saving the Prince of Saxe Cobourg's crew. Favoured by the weather, though delayed by his guide having forgotten the way. Captain Stokes reached Fury Harbour in two days, and embarked the master and VOL. I. F