30 DEPARTURE. 



We were hardly clear of the river before we 

 had the mortification to find, that a leak in the 

 Trent, which had scarcely shown itself before, 

 now increased to such a degree, as to become 

 an object of serious moment. Considering the 

 manner in which the hull of the vessel had 

 been lined and fortified, it was as much a matter 

 of surprise, as of regret, to all on board; and 

 it was determined to take the first opportunity 

 of ascertaining the cause of so serious an evil. 

 The Port of Lerwick, to which we were then on 

 our way, soon afforded us the means of doing 

 this ; and, immediately after our arrival there, 

 the brig was placed on shore at high water 

 and subjected to a thorough examination. 



Some rents in the planks, in various parts of 

 the vessel, were found to be open and caulked, 

 but the leak still continued, and baffled all our 

 efforts to discover its immediate cause. 



Fortunately, it was not of such magnitude as to 

 endanger the safety of the brig, or the expedition 

 must have suffered considerable detention, still 

 it was of sufficient importance to keep the seamen 

 employed nearly half their watch at the pump — 

 an evil of itself, it must be admitted, sufficiently 

 great under any circumstances, and one which, 

 in our case in particular, was likely to be in- 

 creased ; and when it was further considered that 



