CHAPTER XXI. 



Skyring's chart — Noir Island — Penguins — Fuegians — Sarmiento — 

 Townshend Harbour — Horace Peaks — Cape Desolation— Boat lost — 

 Basket — Search in Desolate Bay — Natives — Heavy gale — Surprise- 

 Seizure — Consequences — Return to Beagle — Sail to Stewart Harbour 

 — Set out again — Escape of Natives — Unavailing search — Discomforts 

 — Tides — Nature of Coast — Doris Cove — Christmas Sound — Cook — 

 York-Minster — March Harbour — Build a boat — Treacherous rocks — 

 Skirmish with the Natives — Captives — Boat-memory — Petrel. 



" 25th. We weighed, ar^d went round to Fury Harbour, for 

 the carpenter and his cargo, and met him with a spar and a 

 raft of plank, taken from the wreck. Having hoisted the boat 

 up, and got the plank on board, we stood out towards the 

 West Furies, by the wind; my intention being either to sail 

 round Noir Island, or anchor under it, before running to the 

 eastward, in order that no part of the sea-coast might be left 

 unexamined. We passed very near some of the rocks, but as 

 the day was fine and the weather clear, a good look-out at the 

 mast-head could be trusted. 



" Before leaving the vicinity of Mount Skyring, I should 

 remark that the true bearing of Mount Sarmiento's summit, 

 which I obtained from the top of Mount Skyring, laid off' on 

 Lieutenant Skyring's chart, passed as truly through his posi- 

 tion of the summit as if the line had been merely drawn be- 

 tween them. This is highly creditable to his work, for I know 

 he did not himself see Mount Sarmiento, when upon Mount 

 Skyring. 



" The breeze freshened, and drew more to the westward to- 

 wards evening, I had therefore no hopes of nearing Noir 

 Island. We saw the Tower Rocks distinctly before dark, and 

 stood on towards them until ten oVlock, closing Scylla to 

 avoid Charybdis, for in-shore of us lay all those scattered rocks. 



