In this state of affairs, leaving Mr. Helpman with Ask—­who had secured a piece of drift timber as a last resource—­I made my way to the edge of the shore, only to find that the boat, unable to stem the current, had anchored some distance above us!  Mr. Helpman and myself might have reached her by swimming; but even could I have easily reconciled myself to part with our arms and instruments, at any rate to abandon poor Ask in the dilemma into which I had brought him was not to be thought of.  By repeated discharges of my gun I at last succeeded in attracting the attention of the boat’s crew, who made an immediate and desperate effort to come to our assistance:  while their strength lasted they just contrived to hold their own against the tide, then, drifting astern, were again compelled to anchor.  The attempt was renewed, when an equally desperate struggle was followed by just as fruitless a result:  the force of the stream was clearly more than they could overcome, and an intervening bank precluded any attempt to creep up to us along the shore.

Most anxiously did I watch the water as it changed its upward level almost with the rapidity of an inch a minute, being in doubt whether it would rise above our heads, ere it afforded a sufficient depth to carry the boat over the intervening bank, and bring us the only assistance that would afford a chance for our lives.  I breathed a short, but most fervent prayer to Him, in whose hands are the issues of life and death, and turned back to cheer my comrades with the chance of rescue.

AND PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE.

Nor shall I ever forget the expression of thankfulness and gratitude which lit up the face of poor Ask, as the whispers of hope were confirmed by the welcome advance of the whaleboat’s bows through the almost submerged mangroves, just as the water had topped our shoulders; and, therefore, barely in time to confirm upon this locality its former title of Point Escape!

We now pulled down to this last-named point, and waited for the tide to fall, in order to obtain the necessary observations for determining its position:  those for latitude, taken in the early part of the night, gave a result (worked on the spot) of 17 degrees 24 1/2 minutes South; being an increase in latitude of 35 miles from the present position of the Beagle.

Having now but two days’ provisions remaining, I determined on completing the survey of the western shore, south of Valentine Island, and then to return and report our discovery, knowing that Captain Wickham would do all in his power to prosecute it to the utmost.

RETURN TO THE SHIP.

March 3.

These plans were accordingly carried into effect, and we returned to the ship on the morning of the 3rd of March.  We found all well on board, with the exception of poor Mr. Usborne, whom we were delighted to see so far recovered.  One sentiment of satisfaction pervaded the whole ship’s company, when informed of our success; and, as I had anticipated, Captain Wickham at once determined upon further exploring our new discovery in lighter boats, first placing the ship as near the mouth of it as practicable.  During the squall, on the first night of our absence, the ship parted her cable, and was nearly on the rocks.