78 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [chap. ii. 



Eockall, and on the morning of September 17th 

 sounded at a depth of 620 fathoms, in lat. 59° 49', 

 long. 12° 36', with a ' warm area ' temperature. 



The weather now again broke, became too un- 

 favourable for work, and grew worse until the fore- 

 noon of the 20th, when St. Kilda was in sight and it 

 was blowing a strong gale with a heavy sea. At day- 

 light on Monday the 21st off Barra Head the south 

 point of the Hebrides, a fresh easterly wind blowing 

 the barometer low and appearances suspicious, Capt. 

 May did not deem it advisable to stand to sea again. 

 He therefore, after consultation with Dr. Carpenter, 

 determined to conclude the work, proceeded down the 

 Sound of Mull, and anchored at Oban on the same 

 afternoon. 



At Oban Dr. Carpenter and his young son, who 

 had manfully borne no little hardship and helped to 

 lighten the evil times to his seniors, went on shore 

 and proceeded southwards by land. 



Her fate pursued the 'Lightning.' After lying a 

 couple of days at Oban, Captain May started for 

 I'embroke on the 24th September. On the 25th 

 oflF the Calf of Man, the barometer having suddenly 

 fallen and the wind and sea fast rising, he determined 

 to run for Holyhead, when suddenly, without increase 

 of wind and in a roll not heavier than usual, the whole 

 of the weather fore-rigging went by the straightening 

 or breaking of the iron hooks which held it. Luckily 

 thfe mast did not fall, and after an hour spent in tem- 

 porarily repairing it the « Lightning ' proceeded on 

 her course and anchored in the new harbour of 

 Holyhead about 6 p.m. 



The general results of the ' Lightning ' expedition 



