4 NARROW ESCAPE 



1824. ward, we again made some progress, and on 

 June, the afternoon of the 28th came in sight of the 

 Caithness shore, near Noss Head. As the 

 hreeze appeared likely to continue, I ordered 

 Lieutenant Bullock to proceed with all despatch 

 to Stromness, that the supplies which we re- 

 quired might be prepared against our arrival ; 

 and the better to accomplish this, Mr. Manico 

 accompanied him, charged Avith a commission 

 to purchase two strong Shetland ponies which 

 we purposed taking out on trial. Off Noss 

 Head we procured a pilot in the evening, and 

 with the wind from the south-eastward crossed 

 the mouth of Sinclair's Bay. We had not 

 however ran above four miles from the Head, 

 when a thick fog set in, and the wind being on 

 shore, with the tide running strong to the 

 northward, we hauled off to avoid being set 

 down on the Pentland Skerries. 



Having made an offing, until by the pilot's 

 account of the set of the tide, we could wea- 

 ther the Head, we again stood in- shore ; but a 

 heavy swell, through which the ship made no 

 way, and a light air, rendered her quite un- 

 manageable ; and the tide having turned, we 

 were carried right for the Head ; for at ten 

 P.M. we obtained soundings in twenty-five 

 fathoms, and saw the shadow of the cliff 



