58 'cook's first voyage jan. 



it was unanimously agreed, that they should eat their 



vulture : the bird was accordingly skinned ; and, it 



being thought best to divide it before it was fit to be 



eaten, it was cut into ten portions, and every man 



cooked his own as he thought fit. After this repast, 



which furnished each of them with about three 



mouthfuls, they prepared to set out ; but it was ten 



o'clock before the snow was sufficiently gone oif, to 



render a march practicable. After a walk of about 



three hours, they were very agreeably surprised to 



find themselves upon the beach, and much nearer 



to the ship than they had any reason to expect. 



Upon reviewing their track from the vessel, they 



perceived that, instead of ascending the hill in aline, 



so as to penetrate into the country, they had made 



almost a circle round it. When they came on board, 



they congratulated each other upon their safety, with 



a joy that no man can feel who has not been exposed 



to equal danger; and as I had suifered great anxiety 



at their not returning in the evening of the day on 



which they set out, I was not wholly without my 



share. 



