26 REACH THE ORKNEYS. [April, 



anchoring for the night, complete ' Desperate' with coal 

 from ' Monkey,' and despatch the latter vessel to Wool- 

 wich. 



Before daylight, the ' Intrepid' having made good de- 

 fects, we again moved forward ; the 'Assistance' towed 

 by the 'Basilisk;' the ' Resolute' by the 'Desperate;' 

 ' North Star' by ' African ;' and ' Lightning,' ' Intrepid,' 

 and ' Pioneer' under steam ; but the breeze soon render- 

 ing towing inconvenient, sail was made, and each vessel 

 moved independently. As the sea rapidly increased, and 

 would soon render communication unsafe, I despatched 

 my last communication by the ' Lightning,' directing 

 her return to Woolwich ; and as the breeze very soon 

 increased and separated the Squadron, and 'African' did 

 not rejoin, I imagine that she followed the ' Lightning.' 



April 23. About one A.M. we rounded the Dudgeon 

 Light and steered for Buchanness, where the consorts, 

 ' North Star' excepted, rejoined. 



April 25. About three A.M. on the morning of the 

 25th, the breeze failing, the steamer resumed tow, and 

 about seven A.M. the ' North Star' was seen under the 

 high land of Caithness. About seven we took on board 

 an Orkney pilot, and shortly before noon, under a most 

 brilliant and cheering sun, not a breeze moving and sea 

 glassy smooth, we threaded the Orkneys, passing Long 

 Hope, where I had at first purposed anchoring, and by 

 noon were safely anchored off the town of Stronmess. 

 The ' Basilisk' was then sent to aid the ' North Star.' 

 The remainder of the Squadron gradually dropped in, 

 and before sunset all were in security, the tenders and 

 steamers within the inner harbour. 



