78 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [cHaAP. II. 
into the deep trough between the Hebrides and 
Rockall, and on the morning of September 17th 
sounded at a depth of 620 fathoms, in lat. 59° 49’, 
long. 12° 36’, with a ‘warm area’ temperature. 
The weather now again broke, became too un- 
favourable for work, and grew worse until the fore- 
noon of the 20th, when St. Kilda was in sight and it 
was blowing a strong gale with a heavy sea. At day- 
light on Monday the 21st, off Barra Head the south 
point of the Hebrides, a fresh easterly wind blowing, 
the barometer low and appearances suspicious, Capt. 
May did not deem it advisable to stand to sea again. 
He therefore, after consultation with Dr. Carpenter, 
determined to conclude the work, proceeded down the 
Sound of Mull, and anchored at Oban on the same 
afternoon. 
At Oban Dr. Carpenter and his young son, who 
had manfully borne no little hardship and helped to 
lighten the evil times to his seniors, went on shore 
and proceeded southwards by land. 
Her fate pursued the ‘ Lightning.’ After lying a 
couple of days at Oban, Captain May started for 
Pembroke on the 24th September. On the 25th, 
off the Calf of Man, the barometer having suddenly 
fallen and the wind and sea fast rising, he determined 
to run for Holyhead, when suddenly, without increase 
of wind and in aroll not heavier than usual, the whole 
of the weather fore-rigging went by the straightening 
or breaking of the iron hooks which held it. Luckily 
the mast did not fall, and after an hour spent in 
temporarily repairing it the ‘ Lightning’ proceeded 
on her course and anchored in the new harbour of 
Holyhead about 6 P.M. 
