WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 



29 



beach, and brought within the limits of our 

 camp. An armed watch was at dusk placed 

 round the tents, and twenty-five men, under the 

 command of the second lieutenant, Mr. Collins, 

 remained on board in charge of the wreck. 



May 23, — began with fog, and moderate 

 northerly wind. The operation of tautening the 

 cables was attended to as the wreck continued 

 to be forced farther on the beach. Several more 

 of the main-deck guns having been thrown over- 

 board, assisted this. . To aid the landing heavy 

 articles, the lower yards were secured with hang- 

 ing lashings to the stern, and pointed towards 

 the beach. On these were lashed cross spars ; 

 and eventually a rough platform was established, 

 which proved of infinite utility in our operation 

 of clearing the wreck. The chain-pumps were 

 occasionally worked to get at the store-rooms and 

 holds, which had become flooded as high as the 

 situation of the hull in the sand allowed, the 

 depth of water in the holds averaging from seven 

 to nine feet. Cheuquante's Indians had increased 

 their number of spears to twenty- seven, and with 

 them were a numerous body of straggling Indians, 

 who had collected from all directions, in num- 

 bers exceeding our force. Some apprehension 



