reported to the Captain, all
hands turned up, the jib and forestay sail set, and the ship quietly
dropped down into the Sound and anchored, never having been in the
slightest danger. The only other one to notice the affair was Midshipman
Willis, who simply states, "dropped from the Buoy and anchored in the
Sound."

Having received the private signals of the East India Company's Navy, and
letters of introduction from the Prince of Orange to all the principal
officers of the Dutch East India Company, instructing them to afford
every assistance that might be required, Cook hoisted the signal to the
Adventure to weigh anchor at 5 A.M. on 13th July, and with a north-west
breeze the two ships sailed for Madeira. When well out in the Channel the
Resolution's crew was mustered, and it was found that, owing to a mistake
of the clerk, there was one man more than the complement, so John Coghlan
was entered on the Supernumerary List for Wages and Victuals.

On the 23rd they were able to relieve a small French boat, from Ferrol to
Corunna, which had been blown far off her course, and had been short of
water for a fortnight. The day following they fell in with three Spanish
men-o'-war; Cook says: "The sternmost hoisted English colours and fired a
gun to leeward, and soon after hoisted his own proper colours, and spoke
with the Adventure." It appears she enquired who they were, and where
they were going, and finally wished them a good voyage. This account did
not satisfy Mr. Forster, who waxes eloquent and describes the event as "a
scene so humiliating to the masters of the sea." He must have formed a
strange opinion of Cook if he thought for a moment he was one to put up
silently with anything humiliating to the British flag. Marra, in his
Journal, points out that the build and rig of the ships were unusual for
men-o'-war, and that when the Spaniards found they had stopped king's
ships, they "made a proper apology, and very politely took leave, wishing
them a good voyage."

THE FIRST LOSS.

At Madeira, where they arrived on 29th July, they were kindly received by
Mr. Loughnan, a merchant of Funchal, who entertained some of the party at
his house throughout the stay, obtained permission for the Forsters to
explore the island, and procured for the ships the stores that were
required. Here Cook, with his eye on the scurvy, purchased as many onions
as he thought would keep good, and ordered them to be served out
regularly to the crew