CAPTAIN COOK, 



35 



when she slowly moved out of her place, and was still buoyant enough to ride on the 

 rising swell. The men were so spent with toil at the pumps that they could work in 

 relays of only five minutes at a time, throwing themselves in utter exhaustion on the 

 deck when their strength was spent. Sail was hoisted, and all speed made for the shore ; 

 but before a place could be discovered on which to beach the ship the leak was found to 

 be gaining on the pumps at a dangerous rate. However, by passing an old sail under 



CAPTAIN COOKS LAN UI NO-PLACE, BOTANY HAY. 



the keel, and keeping it tight with ropes, the influx of water was at length so far 

 reduced as not to gain on the pumps. Two days later the vessel entered an estuary 

 which Cook called the liiiiicai'oiir River, where she was successfully beached. 



A tent was soon pitched to serve as a hospital for the scurvy-smitten seamen ; a 

 blacksmith's forge and shops for the carpenters were erected, and the necessary repairs 

 to the vessel were begun. On examination it was found that the hole made would have 

 been far more than sufficient to sink her, but that a large piece of coral, which to a 

 great extent stopped the leak, had been embedded in the gap. The damage was soon 

 repaired, but while the sick were recovering there was time for explorations into the 

 country, and Banks, having with him two greyhounds, added to the pleasures of botanical 

 collection that of a kangaroo-hunt, which he was thus, perhaps, the first European to 

 enjoy. One kangaroo was shot, and the meat was highly appreciated by the not too 

 dainty sailors, who for months past had subsisted upon salt junk. 



After an interval of seven weeks, and all repairs having been effected, the Endeavour 

 was floated ; and Cook being determined to make the open sea on the other side of 

 the Barrier Reef, directed his course towards an opening where no breakers were visible. 

 The passage was made in safety, and then, steering to the northward, the promontory 



