WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER* 121 



Our relief we now looked forward to as near 

 at hand. 



June 24. — It rained hard during the night, 

 but towards morning it cleared off. After ex- 

 amining the state of our situation, and consult- 

 ing with Captain Seymour as to the expediency 

 of the Blonde's immediately proceeding to our 

 assistance, Captain Fitzroy set off without de- 

 lay on his journey, to return to Concep9ion, and 

 was fortunately favoured by an interval of fine 

 weather. 



Our sick list had increased but little ; yet it 

 was evident that many amongst the crew, as well 

 as officers, were suffering greatly from the con- 

 stant exposure to wet and damp. That it was 

 not more felt is a matter of surprise : happily we 

 had enough food and spirits, though our bread 

 had failed us; and we had saved a cask of to- 

 bacco, which permitted smoking to be generally 

 practised by all of us, and the benefit which 

 arose from it was evidently great. The crew 

 were employed in cutting and stacking wood 

 for signal fires on the hill above the camp, 

 and in drying clothes and clearing the camp : a 

 party also thatching, with boughs of trees, the 

 sentry boxes, to affi3rd the men some shelter 



