THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 467 



the course of which the down from the great thistles with 

 which the plains are covered was blown over the bay in 

 such a manner as to exactly counterfeit a snow-storm. The 

 gale continued during most of the 20th, falling gradually 

 towards the evening, and on the morning of the following day, 

 which was brilliant, calm, and warm, we weighed, and began 

 to retrace our way to the south. A favourable breeze sprang 

 up in the course of the afternoon, and at eight p.m. we ceased 

 steaming, and went on under sail throughout the night, keep- 

 ing up an average of eight knots for some time. The follow- 

 ing day was very bright and warm, with comparatively little 

 wind, but what there was in our favour. The breeze fresh- 

 ened somewhat towards evening, and about ten p.m. we were 

 going smoothly at a rate of about six knots, when those 

 of us who were seated quietly reading down below were 

 startled by a sudden shout, and the noise of a scuffle on deck, 

 and immediately afterwards learned, to our dismay, that there 

 was " a man overboard." Sail was at once shortened, and a 

 boat immediately lowered, which, pulling rapidly from the ship, 

 gradually disappeared from our view in the darkness. Ten 

 minutes later a second boat was despatched, and the ship put 

 about. This boat likewise soon disappeared from view, in 

 spite of the light of the lantern which she carried, and an 

 interval of anxious expectation succeeded, broken at length 

 by a loud hail, soon after which she was descried not far off 

 with the missing man, who, fortunately for himseK, had been 

 a good swimmer, on board. A blue light was then burned 

 to attract the attention of the first boat to our position, and 

 before long she made her appearance, and we resumed our 

 course. 



Heavy rain came on at two a.m. on the morning of the 

 23d, and continued for between four and five hours, the wind 



