RETURN AND ACCOUNT OF THE LOST CREW. 181 



ofFonr weather-beam, squared in, and standing directly 

 for us — coming down before the half gale like race- 

 horses. We at first thought that they were whaling ; 

 but as they neared us, and we saw that they all had 

 their colors flying, we at once suspected the true 

 reason for their manoeuvring. In a short time, the 

 barque Isabella ran across our stern, spoke us, and 

 informed us of the safety of the missing ones; and 

 that all, though weak and exhausted, were as well 

 as circumstances would permit. This was glorious 

 news, and was received with hearty cheers. Later 

 in the afternoon we learned that the poor fellows 

 had been five days in their boat, with nothing to eat, 

 except half-a-dozen biscuits, an albatross that they 

 had killed by darting a lance into it, and a piece of 

 squid that they managed to pick up. The latter, they 

 said, was not very recent; but, in their necessity, it 

 was to them tall eating, and they were disposed to 

 grumble at the quantity, rather than the quality of 

 their food. They said that they had made for the 

 land immediately on finding that they had lost their 

 ship, but had not succeeded in reaching it until Sun- 

 day. As they approached it, they fortunately dis- 

 covered the ship James Allen close-to. They made 

 for her — told their story — were taken on board, and 

 everything that could be afforded for their comfort 

 was plentifully supplied to them. They were much 

 emaciated by their long fast and exposure ; but under 

 the genial influence of good victuals and their pre- 

 sent position, they were gradually recovering their 

 wonted hardy condition. The James Allen, being 

 in the course of a few days bound oft" the ground to 

 Ilobartown, handed over the missing ones to the 

 16 



