2iO JOURNAL OF GALLEGO. 



their opinion, 70 or 80 leagues to the north-by-west, that we were 

 much to leeward of the land, that it was not practicable to reach 

 the cape with this wind as the coast trended north-west and south- 

 east, and that we could not live unless we fell in with the land." 



Could the Spaniards have known at this time what lay before 

 them, the bravest heart amongst them would have quailed. Instead 

 of being in the neighbourhood of the Californian coast whither they 

 were steering, they had more than 8,000 miles of ocean to traverse 

 and two long dreary months to struggle through, before they were 

 fated to sight the laud. They were destined to pass through storms, 

 the like of which Gallego had never witnessed during his 45 j^ears 

 experience of the sea. The two ships were to be parted ; and each 

 was to pursue its solitary way in the fear that the missing ship had 

 foundered. Such was the lot before them with sickness already 

 amongst them, and with a failing store of water and provisions. 



The Chief-Pilot thus continues his narrative — " On the 14th of 

 this month (October), I continued to steer both ships in close com- 

 pany to the north-east. In the middle of the night there came a 

 squall with a little rain. We shortened sail ; and at that time the 

 'Almiranta' was to windward ; but she allowed herself to fall to 

 leeward for an hour, and when it dawned we could only see her 

 from the top. Hoping to fall in with her, we carried only the fore- 

 sail, and made no more sail all that day and night. We headed to 

 the north-east until the second hour of the day ; and because we did 

 not see her, we took in all the sails. This was the 16th day of the 

 month of October. 



" Two hours after noon on Sunday the 17th, whilst we were yet 

 hoping, we shortened sail because there was much wind from the 

 south-east. We were driven before the gale ; and as we were lying 

 in the trough of the sea without any sails, the wind came upon us 

 with all its fury from the north-east, such as I never beheld during 

 the 45 years that I have been at sea, 80 of which I have served as 

 pilot. Such boisterous weather, I have never witnessed, although 

 I have seen storms enough. For a squall to take us when we were 

 without sail, this was whsit friohtened me. A sea struck us on the 

 port side from the water-line to the middle hatch, which was battened 

 down and caulked as I had ordered. We were dehiged with water. 

 Everything went its own way ; and the soldiers and sailors were 

 swimming about inside the ship, as they were trying to launch the 

 boat, which was smashed and full of cables and water. The sailors 



