the hands and feet and rendered
dodging these dangers extremely difficult. However, by great attention
on the part of the officers, and by promptitude in giving aid when
required, this very arduous part of our work was performed, which I
sincerely believe could not have been accomplished by any men in the
world but British seamen; the only accidents being some cuts in the
hands and feet, and bruises from falling stones.

"All the gear being prepared, in the evening I arranged the
distribution of my officers with their particular parties at the
capstan, crabs, purchases, etc. The smallness of the number of hands
sent from the _Warspite_ rendered it necessary that I should have every
working man from the _Lightning_; and on this occasion she was left
with only a few convalescents to take care of her, and even the young
gentlemen[6] were obliged to give their aid at the capstan. On the
morning of the 9th, the derrick was launched without casualty, and
while the boats were towing it to the cove, all gear was got ready to
be attached to it the moment it arrived at the proper position,
according to the plan I had given.

"It had to be towed for a distance of about a mile, subject to the
influence of a strong current running westward through the gut, at once
exposing us to the two-fold danger of being driven to sea or against
the rocks. In apprehension of accident from one or the other of these
causes, I had taken the precaution of placing bolts at several points
of the rocks, so that in case of necessity a warp might be made fast.
However, the derrick reached the cove without disaster, and as
everything depended on promptitude of action, I had all the gear fitted
to go with toggles, which so much facilitated the rigging that in one
hour and a half after its arrival, everything was in place and the
_Lightning's_ chain stream cable being made fast to the heel of the
derrick, ready for heaving up, I left the further management in the
cove to Mr. Chatfield, and placed myself upon the main cliff.

"I then gave the order to heave round, and everyone was on the alert;
but we had scarcely brought any considerable strain on the gear when a
report came to me that the heel of the derrick was displaced and driven
into a chasm at the foot of the cliff, an accident which for this time
put an end to further efforts. I had no alternative but to cast
everything off in a hurry, and if possible return to the harbor with
the derrick; bu