hich we had emptied
before starting. I knew they were far too numerous for such to be the
case, but I suppressed my opinion and made no remarks. We next came to a
cask of salt provisions, washed high and dry at least twenty feet above
the usual high-water mark: the sea had evidently not been near this for a
long period as it was half covered with drift sand which must have taken
some time to accumulate. This Coles easily accounted for, it was merely
the cask which had been lost from the wreck of the Paul Pry. I still
thought otherwise but said nothing.

At length we reached the spot where the depot had been made: so changed
was it that both Mr. Smith and Coles persisted it was not the place; but
on going to the shore there were some very remarkable rocks, on the top
of which lay a flour cask more than half empty, with the head knocked
out, but not otherwise injured; this also was washed up at least twenty
feet of perpendicular elevation beyond high water mark. The dreadful
certainty now flashed upon the minds of Mr. Smith and Coles, and I waited
to see what effect it would have upon them. Coles did not bear the
surprise so well as I had expected; he dashed the spade upon the ground
with almost ferocious violence, and looking up to me he said, "All lost,
Sir! we are all lost, Sir!" Mr. Smith stood utterly calm and unmoved; I
had not calculated wrongly upon his courage and firmness. His answer to
Coles was, "Nonsense, Coles, we shall do very well yet; why, there is a
cask of salt provisions and half a cask of flour still left."

I now rallied Coles upon his conduct; compared it with that of Mr. Smith,
and told him that when I had taken him on to the depot in preference to
the other men it had been in the expectation that, if any disaster had
happened, he would, by his coolness and courage, have given such an
example as would have exercised a salutary influence upon the others.
This had the desired effect upon him; he became perfectly cool and
collected and promised to make light of the misfortune to the rest, and
to observe the strictest discipline. I then requested Mr. Smith to see
the little flour that was left in the barrel and on the rocks carefully
collected by Coles, and, leaving them thus engaged, I turned back along
the sea shore towards the party; glad of the opportunity of being alone
as I could now commune freely with my own thoughts.

ALARMING POSITION AND PROSPECTS. REPAIR DAMAGES, AND RETURN TO THE MAIN.