Grayson.] 290 [June 7, 



nity of jumping ashore ; much caution had to be used in this ex- 

 ploit, the sea breaking furiously at times upon this rock. 



"Mr. Anderson being sea sick, from which malady he suffered the 

 entire voyage, was first put on shore, afterwards my son and the boy 

 Cristobal were landed, in order to receive the different articles as 

 they were thrown to them from the skiff. The water casks were all 

 hoisted on deck in order that should the sloop break up, they would 

 float ashore ; the provisions, guns, ammunition, and other articles 

 most needed for the expedition were all soon safely landed. . 



"I remained on board till all these things were on shore. Cristo- 

 bal, who had gone a few steps up the cove, suddenly cried out to me 

 with demonstrations of the most lively joy, "agua, agua-dulce" point- 

 ing at the same time to an ugly pile of rocks upon which he was 

 standing. 



"There indeed we found a small spring of warm water gushing out 

 of a seam in the solid rock that forms a precipice on the western 

 sjLde of the cove; it was partly concealed by a pile of rocks and 

 boulders, which is often covered by the tide, and the spring so low 

 down would naturally be taken for tide water running back into the 

 sea. 



"The uncertainty of the length of time we would have to remain 

 before being rescued from our exile, for it is well known that vessels 

 seldom pass near this island, rendered this discovery of the highest 

 importance. The contemplation of the hardships, toil and intense 

 suffering in searching for water in a locality where it seemed ex- 

 tremely doubtful of success, filled my mind with the greatest anxiety, 

 but it was now dispelled by this unexpected discovery, and I felt 

 pretty certain that the preservation of our lives depended upon 

 it. This I became more and more convinced of, as we made frequent 

 and laborious excursions without being able to find it elsewhere. 



"During the day the sea became rougher, and the small anchor 

 chain parted and nearly all of the sloop's keel broke off. She still 

 held by the larger anchor. 



"All the articles landed were taken up to the place selected for our 

 camp, beneath the shade of the trees, which at the head of the cove 

 are of profuse growth. As soon as it was dark, being much fatigued 

 by our day's work, we retired to sleep. About two o'clock, a.m., we 

 we were aroused by the loud shouting of one of the sailors left on 

 board the sloop. We hurried to the spot and found she had broken 

 the chain and was already hard and fast upon the rocks close to 



