drew so near that Thorn prepared for action,
whereupon the brig sheered off, and left them.

On the 11th of October they ran into a terrific storm, which prevailed
until the 21st, when they found themselves off the River Plate. While
the storm was at its height the man at the wheel was thrown across the
deck by a sudden jump of the wheel and severely injured, breaking three
of his ribs and fracturing his collar-bone[1]. Thorn's seamanship
during the trying period was first class. After the gale blew itself
out, a fresh breeze succeeded, which enabled them rapidly to run down
their southing. The water supply had grown very low, and it was
determined to run in to the Falkland Islands to fill the casks.

They made a landfall on the 3rd of December, got on shore on one of the
smaller islets on the 4th, found no water, and were driven to sea to
seek an offing on the 5th by a gale. On the 6th they landed at Point
Egmont on the West Falkland, and found a fine spring of fresh water.
As it would take several days to fill the casks, all the passengers
went ashore and camped on the deserted island. They amused themselves
by fishing, shooting and rambling about. On the 11th of the month the
captain, having filled his water-casks, signalled for every man to come
aboard, by firing a gun. Eight passengers, including McDougall and
Stuart, happened to be on shore at the time. They had wandered around
to the other side of the island, and did not hear the report of the
gun. Thorn, after waiting a short time, weighed anchor and filled away
from {266} the island, firmly resolved to leave the men ashore,
marooned and destitute of supplies on that desolate and uninhabited
spot, where they must inevitably perish of starvation and exposure.

Some of the abandoned passengers happened to see the _Tonquin_ fast
leaving the island. In great alarm they hastily summoned all the other
wanderers, and the eight got into a small boat twenty feet long, which
had been left with them, and rowed after the rapidly receding ship.
They had not the slightest hope of catching her unless she waited for
them, but they pulled for her with furious energy, nevertheless. As
the _Tonquin_ got from under the lee of the land the breeze freshened
and she drew away from them with every passing moment in spite of their
manful work at the oars. When they had about given up in exhaustion
and despair, the ship suddenly changed her course and stood toward them.