tell. There was no fresh
water at hand, and as the tide had fallen, leaving her fully fifty feet
from the margin of the river, they had to run all that distance with
buckets, or whatever else they could lay hold of, to bring up water to
extinguish the flames. Before a sufficient quantity could be brought
the fire had got a complete hold of the vessel. In vain they dashed the
water over her, the flames rapidly spread from stem to stern, and, at
length, seeing that all their efforts were useless, they had to stand by
and watch her burning, a small portion only of her stores and provisions
having been saved. In a short time the poor _Horn_ became a mere heap
of ashes.

On the 20th they launched the _Unity_, and the next day carried on board
all the ironwork, anchors, guns, and whatever else they had been able to
save from the unfortunate _Horn_. While hunting about for water,
without which they could not venture to sea, they found on the 25th some
holes full of it. Though it was white and muddy, it was well tasting,
and they accordingly carried on board a large quantity in casks on men's
shoulders.

Near this place they discovered a number of sea-lions, the young of
which they found very good to eat; but the creatures were so fierce that
they could only be killed by musket-shots. On the 13th of January,
1616, they left Port Desire, and on the 18th sighted the Falkland
Islands.

Holding their course south by west, they saw land bearing west and
west-south-west from them, and shortly afterwards other land to the
south. The wind blowing strong, they were compelled to take in sail.
The next morning they saw land to starboard at the distance of about a
league, consisting of high snow-covered hills. Then they saw other land
bearing east from the former, also high and rugged. As these two lands
were about eight leagues apart, and as there was a strong current
running to the southward in the direction of the opening, they guessed
that there might be a free passage between them.

They had good reason to hope that this might be the one they were in
search of, leading into the South Sea. They accordingly steered for it,
but the wind falling, they were compelled to restrain their eagerness.
Here, as they were gliding on, they saw prodigious multitudes of
penguins and also whales in such vast schools that they had to steer
with caution lest, by running against them, the monsters should injure
the ship. On the 25th the