146 CAPTAIN COOK 



the situation was uncertain. Thence he pro- 

 posed to regain the tropics and to sail westward, 

 visiting all the islands which he might meet with 

 on the way, and making Tahiti his objective, 

 where he wished to call to obtain news of the 

 Adventure. After this long voyage he intended 

 to proceed far enough westward to see the 

 Southern Land of the Holy Ghost, discovered 

 by Quiros, which Bougainville had called the 

 "Archipelago of the Great Cyclades." From 

 there he proposed to sail southwards and south- 

 eastwards into and between the latitudes of 50° 

 and 60°, and to reach Cape Horn in November, 

 so that the whole of the following summer could 

 be employed in exploring the South Atlantic. 



Such was the formidable scheme which Cook, 

 studying his charts, had drawn up. Would his 

 officers and men, who hoped to return to Eng- 

 land that year, consent? Cook assembled the 

 former and communicated his ambitious projects 

 to them. Without regret or hesitation they all 

 approved. Thus, instead of laying her course 

 for home, the Resolution, manned by men who 

 knew neither weariness nor fear, set out towards 

 fresh islands. 



