284 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



Aware that warm and dry clothing was an object of the first im- 

 portance, inspections of the men's feet and dress were held morning 

 and evening, in which the wearing of a suitable number of garments 

 was insisted upon, as well as the greatest personal cleanliness. With 

 the same views, the drying-stoves were particularly attended to ; and 

 that every part under deck might be effectually and quickly freed of 

 moisture, additional stoves had been procured at Sydney. Thermo- 

 meters were hung up in proper places, and frequently consulted, in 

 order by following their indications to secure an equable temperature, 

 and at the time to ascertain when the use of stoves might be dispensed 

 with, in whole or in part. The latter was an important consideration, 

 for we were under the necessity of husbanding our stock of fuel, by 

 expending it only when absolutely necessary. 



We also took advantage of the fine weather to bend all our best 

 sails, and to shift our top-gallant masts. 



The 1st January was one of those days, which are termed, both at 

 sea and on shore, a weather-breeder. The sea was smooth and placid, 

 but the sky was in places lowering, and had a wintry cast, to which 

 we had long been strangers; the temperature shortly began to fall, 

 the breeze to increase, and the weather to become misty. In a few 

 hours we were sailing rapidly through the water, with a rising sea, 

 and by midnight it was reported that the tender Flying-Fish was 

 barely visible. I shortened sail, but it was difficult to stop our way ; 

 and on the morning of the 2d of January, the fog was dense, and the 

 Peacock and Porpoise only were in sight ; we hove-to, and the Pea- 

 cock and Porpoise were ordered to stand east and west, in order to 

 intercept the tender, but they returned without success ; we also fired 

 guns in hopes of being heard. In the afternoon, I deemed it useless to 

 wait any longer for her, and that I must take the chance of falling in 

 with her at Macquarie Island, our first appointed place of rendezvous, 

 — a visit to which I had flattered myself might have been avoided, but 

 which it became necessary now to make. We accordingly proceeded 

 on our course for that island, with all sail set. This separation of the 

 tender took place in the latitude of 48° S., and she was not again seen 

 until our return. The officers and crew were not slow in assigning to 

 the Flying-Fish a similar fate with her unfortunate mate, the Sea-Gull. 

 Men-of-war's men are prone to prognosticate evil, and on this occasion 

 they were not wanting in various surmises. Woful accounts were 

 soon afloat of the distress the schooner was in when last seen, — and 

 this in quite a moderate sea. 



The barometer now began to assume a lower range; and the tem- 

 perature to fall below 50°. On the 3d, the fog continuing very thick, 



