150 REJOIN KEPPEL AND BttOOKE [1844. 



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about sunset, and about 10, o'clock, P.M., anchored to await 

 the tide. The bore at the mouth of this river is consi- 

 dered dangerous, but did not incommode us beyond the 

 troubled water which followed, and kept us for a long 

 period rolling heavily. Before dawn we were again 

 advancing, but found our boats much impeded by the 

 shoals over which the tide did not yet afford sufficient 

 water. At dark we fired guns and several rockets, in 

 order to make Phlegethon shew us her position, but 

 heavy rain probably prevented this being noticed ; about 

 S o'clock we discovered lights and suddenly found our- 

 selves alongside the ' Phlegethon ', where I soon rejoined 

 my friends Keppel and Brooke. 



To render our visit the more welcome, I had brought 

 with me their letters from Europe ; these soon engrossed 

 their attenion, and occupied them for the rest of the night 

 with a degree of interest, known only to those who are 

 subject to such a rambling life as ourselves. One incident, 

 however, occurred to throw a gloom around our meeting, 

 and was very nearly attended with fatal consequences. 

 Mr.D'Aeth commanding the Dido's cutter, in his anxiety 

 to get his despatches, had made an attempt to reach the 

 steamer in a light canoe which capsized ; a very rapid 

 tide was running and it was pitch dark, but fortunately 

 Mr. D'Aeth was a good swimmer and managed to sustain 

 himself until the arrival of assistance; the cry of 'all 

 right ' soon relieved our fears. Mr. Brooke with his usual 

 intrepidity, had been the foremost in rendering assistance; 

 immediately on hearing cries of distress among the natives, 

 he hastened to relieve them, and having done this with 

 success returned equally drenched with Mr. D'Aeth, 

 whose life he had been instrumental in saving. 



