WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 133 



tention towards us. Some showers of rain fell 

 in the evening, but the night promised fair and 

 clear weather. 



July 6. — Wind s. e., with clear weather. No- 

 thing could have happened more providentially 

 for us than the favourable manner in which we 

 were this day circumstanced witli regard to 

 the wind and weather, and which permitted the 

 Blonde at 9 a,m. to anchor off the point below 

 our signal hill. We had at daylight launched 

 and loaded the Blonde's three boats, and imme- 

 diately despatched them ; had struck the tents, 

 lashed up our bedding and clothing, and brought 

 all to the pier, ready to put into the boats as they 

 arrived. 



Many of the sick were sent off in the fastest 

 rowing boat of those which were first de- 

 spatched. Towards the middle of the day, the 

 Commodore landed and visited the remains of 

 our camp, and by 6 p.m. every one, with the 

 whole of our baggage,^ was embarked, the last 

 two boats having taken off the Captain, Mr. 

 Rouse the Consul, and five officers with the 

 marines, who had, as consistent with our pre- 

 vious system of caution, been retained to the 

 last as a rear-guard, and only discharged their 



K 3 



