s:

"The long continuance in these cold climates began now to hang heavily on
our crew, especially as it banished all hope of returning home this year,
which had hitherto supported their spirits. At first a painful
despondence owing to the dreary prospect of another year's cruise to the
south seemed painted in every countenance; till by degrees they resigned
themselves to their fate with a kind of sullen indifference. It must be
owned, however, that nothing could be more dejecting than the entire
ignorance of our future destination which, without any apparent reason
was constantly kept a secret to every person in the ship."

It is evident that Cook and his officers did not think it necessary to
consult Mr. Forster as to the movements of the ship, or, what is more
probable, he was in one of his irritable moods and must say something
nasty about someone.

The decision to turn northwards was taken none too soon, for on 6th
February a furious storm came on, playing havoc with the sails and
running rigging, and though it abated somewhat next morning, it blew very
strong till the 12th, and would have been highly dangerous if it had
caught them amongst the ice. On the 17th Cook judged he had crossed his
outward track of 1769, and on the 20th he notes the thermometer rising to
66 degrees, the only real summer day they had experienced since leaving
New Zealand. Having arrived at the position laid down for the land
supposed to have been seen by Juan Fernandez, he cruised about but found
no signs, so on the 25th stood away for Easter Island.

Cook was now taken seriously ill and was confined to his bed for several
days by what he calls the bilious cholic, during which time "Mr. Patten,
the surgeon, was to me, not only a skilful physician, but an affectionate
nurse." He recovered very slowly, and the want of fresh food told against
him when it came to the question of gathering strength. The only fresh
meat on board was a dog belonging to Mr. Forster, which was duly
sacrificed and made into soup: "Thus I received nourishment and strength
from food which would have made most people in Europe sick." Marra's
Journal says, under 23rd February:

"This day the Captain was taken ill, to the grief of all the ship's
company." 28th February: "The Captain this day much better, which each
might read in the countenance of the other, from the highest officer to
the meanest boy on board the ship." 4th March: "The Captain perfectly
recovered f