162 SOUTHERN CRUISE. 
On the morning of the 19th, the highest point of Noir Island was 
seen, capped with snow; the wind had abated somewhat, but not 
enough to permit of their landing in a snug little cove abreast of them. 
In the afternoon the wind again increased, and another anchor was let 
go. There was much sea, and the ship rode very uneasy at her 
anchor. The sea broke tremendously on the reef astern, shooting up 
in columns, such as are seen to appear under the effect of mirage. 
After it became dark the wind shifted to the southward and eastward 
which brought the sea from that quarter, and exposed them more both 
to it and the wind. The anchors shortly after began to drag, and 
the vessel was urged in the direction of a rock. Fortunately the 
wind abated towards morning, and came from its old quarter, south- 
west, more off the land, but still blew with violence. 
On the morning of the 20th, one of their chain cables was found 
to have parted. The chain was hove in with some difficulty and 
another anchor let go. The weather towards evening became again 
threatening, and produced no little anxiety. At nightfall it shifted 
in the same way it had done the previous evening, blowing again 
heavily. The ship was felt to be constantly dragging, accompanied 
by that grating kind of noise of the chain moving on the bottom, 
which is any thing but agreeable. The rock astern, together with 
the reef toward which the wind and sea were both setting the 
ship, rendered their situation truly appalling. The prospect of any 
one surviving, in case they had struck, was extremely slight. The 
night was dark and stormy, and the dragging continued occasionally 
until midnight, when they found they had passed and escaped 
the rock, and were near the reef. They now shipped a heavy 
sea over the bows, the shock of which was so great that it parted 
their cables, and their drifting became rapid. From the set of the 
current, they just cleared the reef. When the point of the island 
bore east of south, they slipped their cables, wore round, and made 
sad; and on the 21st, at daybreak, they found themselves off Cape 
Gloucester. l 
The conduct of Lieutenant-Commandant Long, his officers and 
men, during the perilous situation in which the Relief was placed, 
deserves great praise; they did their duty in every respect. On 
getting to sea, Lieutenant-Commandant Long, with a council of offi- 
cers opened his sealed instructions, which directed him to proceed 
to Valparaiso in the event of not finding me on his return to Orange 
Harbour, and concluded to make for Valparaiso, off which port he 
