PATAGONIANS 



broke loose from her fastenings ; and as the wind hauled 

 back a little she cleared the point and hastened out to 

 sea, sounding a dirge with her dragging chains. The 

 cables were instantly slipped, and the men at the order 

 sprang to the yards and loosed sail. A sandbeach con- 

 venient for beaching the vessel would have been hailed 

 with joy: but a merciful God had planned it otherwise. 

 Providentially, the clouds had dispersed during the last 

 hour and a starlight sky favored us. The storm also 

 began to abate and the winds to veer to a more favorable 

 direction. We succeeded in rounding the southern cape 

 of Noir Island, and, as the wind continued hauling, we 

 were enabled at last to head free of the coast. With each 

 passing hour we breathed more and more freely. 



" Morning dawned a morning of exultation to us all. 

 Our scene of danger was already far away the gale had 

 subsided to a fresh breeze and with the reefs shaken 

 from the topsails and topgallantsails set, we were speed- 

 ily hastening to the open sea. 



" As all our anchors but one, of small size, were lost at 

 Noir Island, Captain Long determined to sail direct for 

 Valparaiso, instead of returning to Orange Bay. We are 

 making rapid progress with a fair wind, and shall look for 

 our port in fifteen or twenty days." 



Here is a letter of a different character addressed to 

 Dr. Gray, who had evidently made some inquiries about 

 the possibilities of missionary work in Patagonia. 



TO ASA GRAY 

 Glimpses of the Patagonians : The Ways of Primitive Men 



" VALPARAISO, May 6, 1839. 



" . . . In consequence of losing our anchors, the 

 Relief went on to Valparaiso without returning to Nassau 

 Bay as ordered. The Peacock has since come in. We 

 expect soon to see the other vessels. It is a secret to be 

 divulged by government, how far south they reached. 

 So I can only tell you that the Peacock went beyond the 

 French. . . . 



103 



