92 CAPTAIN COOK 



with the Portland, a British warship, and twelve 

 East Indiamen, but Cook parted company with 

 them some days later, as he found that the En- 

 deavour "carried sail more sluggishly than the 

 others." 



Two other bodies were committed to the sea, 

 those of the young mate and of Lieutenant Hicks, 

 who had been suffering from phthisis for some 

 time. 



On June loth the English coast appeared on 

 the horizon, and two days later the Endeavour 

 anchored in the Downs to the north of Dover. 



During this tremendous voyage round the 

 world, which had lasted almost three years, 

 Cook had endowed his country with fertile 

 islands and vast countries. He had enriched 

 the science of navigation with charts of admi- 

 rable accuracy and clarity, and, with the help of 

 the scientists who had accompanied him, he had 

 added invaluable chapters to astronomy and 

 natural history. Everywhere and always he had 

 shown himself a great leader, as exacting of him- 

 self as of others, straight and loyal, just and hu- 

 mane. Forty of his companions had not re- 

 turned, but he placed the glory of England and 

 the advancement of science before everything. 

 Cook, as soon as he had landed, was ready to 

 start again. 



