32 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1^1. situation, and to request him to recover our 
June 30. anchor in the morning if the weather would 
permit, Mr. Bedwell volunteered to go on board 
her ; which, although a service of danger, was, if 
possible to be effected, absolutely necessary. 
The boat was lowered, and they shoved off, but 
as the crew were unable to pull it a-head, I 
called her on board again, which was most for- 
tunate; for shortly afterwards the chain-cable 
parted also, and the brig drove with her head 
towards the shore. 
July 1. We had now the prospect of being obliged to 
keep under sail during the remainder of the 
night. An attempt was made to veer, in order 
that, by laying to with her head off shore, we 
might have time to recover the cable, without 
endangering the security of the vessel ; but, from 
the weight of the chain at the bow, this ma- 
ncEuvre could not be effected ; fearing, therefore, 
to drift any more to the westward, in which di- 
rection we were making rapid way, I was under 
the necessity of slipping the chain, by which we 
lost one hundred fathoms of cable, which we 
could but badly spare : being now freed from 
the impediment, the brig’s head was placed off 
shore; and after making sail, we fired several 
musquets and shewed lights, as signals to the 
Dick, who, it afterwards appeared, kept a light 
