102 



THE WASP ON A ROCK. 



[1823. 



the head of the bay, I had the precaution to take the bearings of it, 

 and shaped my course for its entrance, keeping a man in each of the 

 main chains with hand-leads, and orders to throw as fast as possible. 



When we approached the entrance of the lagoon I stationed my- 

 self at the mast-head to look out for sunken rocks. At eight P. M. 

 we had entered the chops of the harbour, running under easy sail, and 

 finding no bottom with fifteen fathoms of line. I could see the ap- 

 pearance of a fine haven bending in to the north, and no danger in 

 sight. But just as we were doubling round the north point, in tolera- 

 bly smooth water, the vessel struck on a rock in the middle of the 

 passage, and the shock of the concussion had nearly precipitated me 

 from the mast-head. 



Thus brought up, all standing, in such a place and on such a night, 

 I instantly perceived that the situation of the little Wasp was not the 

 most enviable in the world. By the time that I had reached the deck, 

 and the sails were lowered, I found that the swell, which was heaving 

 into the harbour, had nearly hove the vessel over the rock. On sound- 

 ing over the bows I found six fathoms of water, but on going aft I 

 discovered that the rudder was unhung. 



We immediately proceeded to carry out an anchor with the small 

 stern boat, and fifty fathoms of cable ; but on heaving at the windlass 

 a few minutes, it was evident that the anchor came home. We there- 

 fore ceased heaving, and carried out a second anchor, with seventy 

 fathoms of cable. Both cables were then taken to the windlass, and 

 after heaving for about fifteen minutes the vessel slid over the rock ; 

 and when we had hove her to her anchors, we found twenty-five 

 fathoms of water under her stern. Having raised the best bower to 

 the bows, and hove the small bower short apeak, we set the foresail 

 and jib, then tripped the anchor, and in a short time were safely 

 moored in seven fathoms of water, clay ground, and sheltered from 

 all winds. 



At four A. M. we got the rudder on deck, and found that both 

 pintles were broken off close to the timber ; but ascertaining, at day- 

 light, that the gudgeons were uninjured, we prepared to fit new pintles 

 to the rudder. This we effected by taking two boat-anchors, and 

 cutting one fluke from each, and the palm from the remaining fluke. 

 The ring-end was then severed from each shank ; and the latter, after 

 boring for the purpose, was driven into the rudder, with the palmless 

 fluke pointing downwards, as a substitute for a pintle. These were 

 then shipped into the copper gudgeons on the stern-post, where they 

 traversed with ease and accuracy. 



July 5th. — The foregoing process of supplying rudder pintles was 

 not the work of a moment — it being about five o'clock P. M. before 

 the rudder was restored to its original position, and the pintles properly 

 shipped in the gudgeons ; where, to all appearance, every part was as 

 strong as ever. By this time the wind had hauled to the west-south- 

 west, and blew a smart gale, which continued for two days. 



July \3th. — On Tuesday, the 8th, the wind died away to a perfect 

 calm, with pleasant weather, and so continued for nearly two days 

 longer. We then took a light breeze from the south, and resumed our 



