HEAVY GALE PLAN OF SURPRISE. 



397 



" This idea proving wrong, we retraced (10th) much of 

 our former coarse, because the direction pointed out by the 

 Fuegians who ran away from us seemed to lead towards the 

 place we now steered for, Courtenay Sound, and was a probable 

 line for the thieves to take. During tlie night it blew a gale 

 from the southward, which increased next day (11th), and 

 became more and more violent until the morning of the 12th, 

 when it abated. 



" We continued our search, however, sometimes under a 

 close-reefed sail ; sometimes on our oars, and sometimes scud- 

 ding with only the mast up. Although the wind was very 

 violent, too strong for a close reefed sail (with four reefs), the 

 water was too much confined by islands to rise into a sea, but 

 it was blown, as ' spoon drift," in all directions. This day the 

 Beagle had her topmasts and lower yards struck, for the gale 

 was extremely heavy where she lay. The barometer foretold it 

 very well, falling more than I had previously seen, although the 

 wind was southerly. In an exposed anchorage, I do not think 

 any vessel could have rode it out, however good the holding 

 ground. 



" 12th. This morning the weather was better, and improving 

 fast. We went over much ground without the smallest success, 

 and in the afternoon steered to the eastward again, for a third 

 visit to the boat stealers' family. As it was late when we ap- 

 proached the place, I landed half our party, and with the rest 

 went to reconnoitre. After a long search we discovered the 

 Indians in a cove, at some distance from that in which they 

 were on the previous day ; and having ascertained this point, 

 taken a good view of the ground, and formed our plans, we 

 returned to our companions, and prepared for surprising the 

 natives and making them prisoners. My wish was to surround 

 them unawares, and take as many as possible, to be kept as 

 hostages for the return of our boat, or else to make them show 

 us where she was ; and, meanwhile, it was an object to prevent 

 any from escaping to give the alarm. 



" 13th. Whether the men belonging to the tribe had re- 

 turned during our absence, was uncertain, as we could nut. 



