124 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



by a strong uncharted current, and in the pitch 

 darkness, in which it was impossible to see more 

 than a few yards ahead, we ran ashore on the 

 leeward side of Assumption. Here we remained 

 fast for some twenty-four hours, fixed on the sand. 

 I shall not soon forget that night. As soon as 

 we made sure that we were fast, and that the ship 

 had suffered no harm, I finished off the birds I was 

 engaged in skinning, then joined my companions in 

 watching dismally the water as it gradually fell 

 away from our bows. 



At daybreak all arrangements were made to try 

 to get the ship off at high tide. An anchor was 

 carried out astern, and as the water rose we 

 hauled on it, at the same time working the engines 

 at full speed astern, but to no purpose. All the time, 

 however, "Valhalla" was grinding out for herself 

 a bed in the soft sand, and during the next high 

 tide she floated off, the captain having previously 

 lowered all the boats and cables, and a quantity of 

 coal to lighten her. The yacht was, fortunately, 

 none the worse, and, as soon as she was shipshape 

 again, we steamed away for the Seychelle Islands. 



Thus the fauna of Cosmoledo and Astove is 

 still unknown. I feel sure that these two islands 

 would well repay a visit, as we were told by people 

 in the Seychelles that they abounded with bird- 

 life, but should any of my readers ever attempt 

 to visit them I would suggest that they approach 

 them in daylight. 



