106 THE ATLANTIC. [chap. ii. 



The galley had been sent off, and was to have returned for us 

 after the men had got their sujDper, and one of the cutters had 

 come on shore for the other officers. The darkness falls in 

 these latitudes like a curtain, and it was getting dark when we 

 reached the beach. The captain had to look after the embarka- 

 tion of the party, as the cutter was a bulky boat not well suited 

 for surf work, and had to lie out a little way. We all went off 

 in the cutter, instead of waiting for the galley, and had simply 

 to watch for a favorable moment and make a rush for it up to 

 the middle. We caught onl}^ one light breaker, and were soon 

 all floundering in the boat, amidst a storm of laughter. 



Early next morning, when all our preparations were com- 

 pleted and our working -jDarties ready to land. Captain ISTares 

 announced that the governor had changed his mind, and did 

 not wish to have the island examined. The captain went 

 ashore to expostulate, and as we hoped that the change might 

 have arisen from a misunderstanding which might be removed, 

 boats went off with several exploring parties, the boats to lie 

 off until one or other of two signals should be made from the 

 ship — either the fore-royal shaken out, in which case all was to 

 proceed as had been previously arranged; or the main- royal 

 shaken out, when all the boats were to return to the ship. 

 Time wore on. My role for the day was to take the steam-pin- 

 nace and dredge in moderate water off the coast. As the gov- 

 ernor could not well object to that, I was not to be interfered 

 with in any case, so I only waited to get a derrick fitted in lieu 

 of one which had been damaged. About half- past ten the 

 main -royal was shaken out, and the general recall for boats 

 hoisted. 



The pinnace had just started, and we ran back to hear the 

 news. The governor was courteous, but obdurate. We miglit 

 land ; he would give us horses and guides, ever}- possible ac- 

 commodation ; we might even shoot pigeons, but we must do 

 no scientific work. Captain Nares asked, if we saw a butterfly, 



