30 THE BASILISK AND DESPERATE DEPART. \_M(tl/, 



nected. We were compelled to lie to and that is, under 

 tow, a most tedious operation until one of the steamers 

 could extricate the ' North Star ;' much valuable calm 

 and offing in this variable climate was thus lost. 



Having fairly gained an offing, the ' Basilisk' was al- 

 lotted to the 'Assistance' and tenders, and the 'Despe- 

 rate' to the ' Resolute' and ' North Star.' About four 

 A.M. on the 29th, we passed Cape Wrath lights, and 

 before nightfall had cleared the northern end of Lewis 

 Island. 



We were now truly at sea. My instructions were ex- 

 plicitly limited to taking the two steam aids as far as the 

 longitude of 20 west. It was my intention, on reach- 

 ing that meridian, to complete the tenders with coal, and 

 then release them. That the orders were worded so im- 

 peratively was unfortunate. Had it been simply, not to 

 carry them beyond their safe means of return, I might 

 easily have taken the supplies out at an earlier date, 

 or, at reduced coal, worked a day or more longer, until 

 smoother water prevailed 



Unfortunately this distance was not made good until 

 Sunday, the 2nd of May, when the labour did not ap- 

 pear sufficiently imperative to disturb that day of rest ; 

 but, the breeze suddenly freshening at nightfall, and 

 towiug-hawsers parting, it became necessary to make 

 sail independently. 



Bad weather continued until the 8th of May, when, 

 taking advantage of a lull, we communicated with the 

 steamers, exchanging a marine and taking their to wing- 

 hawsers. Our despatches were sent by the ' Desperate,' 

 Lieutenant Stevens, as being more likely, by steam and 



