420 DANGEROUS SITUATION 



channel S. W. by S. and N. E. by N. The north- 

 easterly stream beginning a quarter before noon at 

 the full and change of the moon. 



The Beagle passed half a mile from the north- 

 west side of Wright's Rock, in 29 fathoms, in the 

 evening ; and having spent the night standing to- 

 and-fro between it and Kent Group, in the morning 

 was abreast of the opening between the islands 

 called Murray Pass, when we steered towards it. 

 The weather, for the season, was fine ; and the sun, 

 although weak, shone brightly from a clear wintry 

 sky — it well-nigh happened for the last time — upon 

 the poor old Beagle ! 



The sea, still vexed and chafing from the breeze 

 of yesterday, rolled in with solemn grandeur on the 

 storm-beaten sides of the islands ; each heaving 

 swell carrying the ship nearer towards the almost 

 fatal opening. Her motions, however, as if she was 

 conscious of the fate that threatened her, were sluggish 

 and slow, and she seemed unwillingly to obey the 

 impulse of the light southerly breeze that aided her 

 progress. Indeed there appeared to be an opposing 

 tide until we drew in between the high rocky sides 

 of the channel, when suddenly the ship was hurried 

 onwards with such rapidity that to prevent our being 

 swept past a cove on the right it was necessary to 

 close with its outer point, towards which a merciless 

 eddy flung the ship's head so rapidly, that before 

 the thrown-aback sails checked her way, her jib- 

 boom was almost over the rocks.* During the few 

 * See the view annexed. 



