CHAPTER XXI. 
Skyring’s chart — Noir Island — Penguins — Fuegians — Sarmiento ~ 
Townshend Harbour—Horace Peaks—Cape Desolation—Boat lost— 
Basket—Search in Desolate Bay—Natives—Heavy gale—Surprise— 
Seizure—Consequences—Return to Beagle—Sail to Stewart Harbour 
—Set out again—Escape of Natives—Unavailing search—Discomforts 
—Tides—Nature of Coast—Doris Cove—Christmas Sound—Cook— 
York-Minster—March Harbour—Build a boat—Treacherous rocks— 
Skirmish with the Natives—Captives—Boat-memory—Petrel. 
“© 25th. We weighed, and went round to Fury Harbour, for 
the carpenter and his cargo, and met him with a spar and a 
raft of plank, taken from the wreck. Having hoisted the boat 
up, and got the plank on board, we stood out towards the 
West Furies, by the wind; my intention being either to sail 
round Noir Island, or anchor under it, before running to the 
eastward, in order that no part of the sea-coast might be left 
unexamined. We passed very near some of the rocks, but as 
the day was fine and the weather clear, a good look-out at the 
mast-head could be trusted. 
“ Before leaving the vicinity of Mount Skyring, I should 
remark that the true bearing of Mount Sarmiento’s summit, 
which I obtained from the top of Mount Skyring, laid off on 
Lieutenant Skyring’s chart, passed as truly through his posi- 
tion of the summit as if the line had been merely drawn be- 
tween them. This is highly creditable to his work, for I know 
he did not himself see Mount Sarmiento, when upon Mount 
Skyring. 
«« The breeze freshened, and drew more to the westward to- 
wards evening, I had therefore no hopes of nearing Noir 
Island. We saw the Tower Rocks distinctly before dark, and 
stood on towards them until ten o'clock, closing Scylla to 
avoid Charybdis, for in-shore of us lay all those scattered rocks, 
