AUSTRALIA 79 



crew, worn out and hopeless, began to get dis- 

 couraged. They could no longer work the 

 pumps for more than five minutes at a time, and 

 then collapse on the deck, gloomy and exhausted. 

 However, it was found that there was not as 

 much water in the hold as had first been thought, 

 and hope returned to these men, who had al- 

 ready given themselves up for lost. One of the 

 officers at the pumps suggested stopping the leak 

 with a sail, instead of with the tow and rags 

 previously employed. This scheme succeeded 

 wonderfully. The leak was almost entirely 

 sealed, and the vessel's course directed towards 

 the land, where Cook sought and soon found a 

 harbour. This harbour, which lay a good way 

 up a tortuous channel, at the head of which 

 flowed a stream of fresh water, was named by 

 Cook Endeavour River. 



The spot was very suitable for the urgent re- 

 pairs necessitated by the accident, from which 

 Cook and his companions had miraculously 

 escaped safe and sound. When the vessel was 

 put on shore, it was found that the biggest hole 

 was partly plugged by a piece of rock which had 

 broken off in the hull. Without this providential 

 help the ship must have sunk in a few seconds. 



A week later the Englishmen had disem- 

 barked on the shore of the River Endeavour and 



