110 LAND ON NORTH CORNWALL. \Augnst, 



ral pressure, fall asunder, float off, and disperse, form- 

 ing in the space of au hour a dense " pack." Where, 

 then, is the security of docking? It would prove end- 

 less labour to dock, unless our missing navigators should 

 in the present instance happen to be to the north of 

 this great opening, when they might push some twenty 

 miles westerly, but never again, I fear, in these high 

 latitudes, to recover easting! 



About nine P.M., having utterly failed in gaining even 

 enough to guide me in the direction of " the wished-for 

 haven," and having the only consolation, that as far as 

 I could see in the direction where I knew it must be, 

 open water prevailed to a limited distance, I quitted the 

 mountain, perfectly confident however of success, or 

 that we should reach it by water. 



August 30. Three days had now elapsed, and yet all 

 in mist ; the weather had slightly improved, and the sea 

 was apparently open in our intended course : the wind 

 also was favourable for the blindfold expedition. We 

 packed, and started under canvas, the tent-poles serving 

 as sheers or mast, and the tent-bottom as sail, furnish- 

 ing us completely in the most approved rig of the Malay 

 pirate prahu. 



At a quarter past eight we left the shore, and pro- 

 ceeded at a very cheering rate, steering by the sun ; but 

 the breeze failing shortly after noon, we had recourse to 

 paddles. About one, we made out terra firma; but as my 

 western object was clearly defined from Pioneer Peak, 

 and I felt great confidence in " first sight," I pushed on 

 for it, well aware that a latitude alone, obtained there, 

 would secure its position beyond dispute. About a 



