HEAVY GALE—PLAN OF SURPRISE. 397 
“This idea proving wrong, we retraced (10th) much of 
our former course, because the direction pointed out by the 
Fuegians who ran away from us seemed to lead towards the 
place we now steered for, Courtenay Sound, and was a probable 
line for the thieves to take. During the night it blew a gale 
from the southward, which increased next day (11th), and 
became more and more violent until the morning of the 12th, 
when it abated. 
<‘ We continued our search, however, sometimes under a 
close-reefed sail ; sometimes on our oars, and sometimes scud- 
ding with only the mast up. Although the wind was very 
violent, too strong for a close reefed sail (with four reefs), the 
water was too much confined by islands to rise into a sea, but 
it was blown, as ‘ spoon drift,’ in all directions. This day the 
Beagle had her topmasts and lower yards struck, for the gale 
was extremely heavy where she lay. The barometer foretold it 
very well, falling more than I had previously seen, although the 
wind was southerly. In an exposed anchorage, I do not think 
any vessel could have rode it out, however good the holding 
ground. 
“12th. This morning the weather was better, and improving 
fast. We went over much ground without the smallest success, 
and in the afternoon steered to the eastward again, for a third 
visit to the boat stealers’ family. As it was late when we ap- 
proached the place, I landed half our party, and with the rest 
went to reconnoitre. After a long search we discovered the 
Indians in a cove, at some distance from that in which they 
were on the previous day ; and having ascertained this point, 
taken a good view of the ground, and formed our plans, we 
returned to our companions, and prepared for surprising the 
natives and making them prisoners. My wish was to surround 
them unawares, and take as many as possible, to be kept as 
hostages for the return of our boat, or else to make them show 
us where she was; and, meanwhile, it was an object to prevent 
any from escaping to give the alarm. 
* 13th. Whether the men belonging to the tribe had re- 
turned during our absence, was uncertain, as we could not, 
