AND PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE. 137 



to carry the boat over the intervening bank, and 

 bring us the only assistance that would afford a 

 chance for our lives. I breathed a short, but most 

 fervent prayer to Him, " in whose hands are the 

 issues of life and death," and turned back to cheer 

 my comrades with the chance of rescue ; nor shall I 

 ever forget the expression of thankfulness and gra- 

 titude which lit up the face of poor Ask, as the 

 whispers of hope were confirmed by the welcome 

 advance of the whale boat's bows through the almost 

 submerged mangroves, just as the water had topped 

 our shoulders ; and, therefore, barely in time to con- 

 firm upon this locality its former title of Point 

 Escape ! 



We now pulled down to this last named point, 

 and waited for the tide to fall, in order to obtain 

 the necessary observations for determining its posi- 

 tion : those for latitude, taken in the early part of 

 the night, gave a result, (worked on the spot,) of 

 17" 24^' S. ; being an increase in latitude of 35 miles 

 from the present position of the ' Beagle.* 



Having now but two days' provisions remaining, 

 I determined on completing the survey of the 

 western shore, south of Valentine Island, and then 

 to return and report our discovery, knowing that 

 Captain Wickham would do all in his power to 

 prosecute it to the utmost. 



March 3. — These plans were accordingly carried 

 into effect, and we returned to the ship on the morn- 

 ing of the 3rd of March. We found all well on 



