128 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



base of this spout was judged to be about fifty or sixty feet. 

 From this a tube or round body was formed, by which the 

 water, or air, or both, was carried in a spiral stream up to the 

 clouds. Some of the sailors said, they saw a bird in the one 

 near them, which was whirled round like the fly of a jack, as 

 it was carried upwards. From the ascending motion of the 

 bird, and several other circumstances, it is very plain, that 

 these spouts are caused by whirlwinds ; and that the water 

 in them was violently hurried upwards, and did not descend 

 from the clouds, as is generally supposed. The first appear- 

 ance of them is by the violent agitation and rising up of the 

 water ; and, presently after, you see a round column or tube 

 forming from the clouds above, which apparently descends 

 till it joins the agitated water below. Captain Cook says, 

 apparently, because he believes it not to be so in reality, but 

 that the tube is already formed from the agitated water 

 below, and ascends, though at first it is either too small or 

 too thin to be seen. When the tube is formed, or becomes 

 visible, its apparent diameter increases until it is pretty 

 large ; after that, it decreases ; and, at last, it breaks or 

 becomes invisible towards the lower part. Soon after, 

 the sea below resumes its natural state ; and the tube is 

 drawn, by little and little, up to the clouds, where it is 

 dissipated. 



At daylight, on the 18th of May, they arrived off Queen 

 Charlotte's Sound, where they discovered the Adventure, by 

 the signals she made ; an event which every one felt with an 

 agreeable satisfaction. At noon, Lieutenant Kempe of the 

 Adventure, came on board ; from whom they learnt that their 

 ship had been there about six weeks. In the evening they 

 came to an anchor in Ship Cove near the Adventure ; when 

 Captain Furneaux came on board, and gave Captain Cook 

 the following account of his proceedings during their 

 separation : 



" On the 7th of February, 1773, in the morning, the Reso- 

 lution being about two miles ahead, the wind shifting, 

 brought on a very thick fog, so that the Adventure lost sight 

 of her. They soon after heard a gun ; and steering in the 

 supposed direction, they kept firing a four pounder every 

 half hour ; but had no answer. In the evening it began to 

 blow hard, and was, at intervals, more clear, but could see 

 nothing of the Resolution, which gave them much uneasiness. 

 They then tacked and stood to cruise in the place where 

 they last saw her, according to agreement in case of separa- 

 tion ; but next day came on a very heavy gale of wind and 

 thick weather, that obliged them to bring to, and thereby 

 prevented their reaching the intended spot. They cruised 

 as near the place as they could get for three days ; when, 



