t we should be constantly approaching home; and that
if any accident should happen to the boats we might always hope to reach
Perth by walking: the principal objection to it was the prevalence of
strong south-east winds. At sunset the party assembled. I detailed to
them at considerable length the three most feasible plans which had
offered themselves to me, the reasons which had made me reject two of
them, as well as those which led me to adopt the third; and as I knew
that there were two or three insubordinate characters amongst the men,
whom I had picked up at Fremantle, I further told them that, if a
sufficient number to man one of the boats objected to follow me, they
could go their own way; as the success of my scheme would altogether
depend upon the courage and subordination with which it was carried out.
No dissentient voice was however raised, but they all promised to follow
me wherever I might lead. We now made arrangements for searching for
turtle during the night, and then stretched ourselves on the sand to try
and sleep.

March 21.

We were unfortunate in not catching a turtle during the night; the season
for them had however now passed away, so that we could only hope to cut
off a stray one which might have lingered behind its fellows. The next
day was occupied in sticking up a steer-oar with a tin canister attached
to it, containing a letter in which was detailed the plan I intended to
follow, so that in the event of any accident occurring, and our remaining
on the coast, we might still have the chance of a vessel being sent to
search for us. The men were occupied in looking for shellfish, drying the
flour, and preparing the boats. It blew nearly a gale of wind from the
south throughout the day.

RETURN TO THE MAIN.

March 22.

This day at two P.M., all our preparations having been completed and the
wind somewhat moderated, we stood across the bay, and soon after
nightfall made the main about twelve miles to the north of the northern
mouth of the Gascoyne. The wind freshened a great deal during the night;
but as it was impossible to beach boats on so dangerous a coast in the
dark we were obliged to trust to the goodness of our anchors, and they
did not disappoint us.

March 23.

Before dawn this morning we were under weigh and pulling dead to windward
against a strong breeze and heavy sea; the men rowed almost without
intermission until noon when, finding them completely exhausted, I made
sail an