ashore. One of the marines also took the opportunity to desert, taking
his musket with him, but after a little trouble was arrested; and having
previously borne a very good character, he was let off with a short
imprisonment. A second desertion occurred from the Discovery, Mr. Mouat,
midshipman, and a seaman getting away. Cook says the affair gave him more
trouble than both men were worth, but he insisted on getting them back to
prevent others following their example, and "to save the son of a brother
officer from being lost to the world." They were found to have gone off
in a canoe to another island, and Cook ordered Clerke to detain the
chief, his son, daughter, and son-in-law on the Discovery, where they had
gone to dine, and to inform them they would be kept as hostages till the
runaways were returned. Three days afterwards the deserters were brought
back, and the hostages were at once released. It was afterwards found out
that there had been a plot to seize Cook in retaliation, when he went for
his usual bath in the evening, but, as it happened, he was so much
worried that he put it off and so escaped. Burney notes that Cook could
not swim. Before leaving they received a message from Omai, saying he was
all right, but asking for another goat as one of his was dead. Clerke was
able to oblige him with two kids, one of each sex.

CHAPTER 17. 1777 TO 1779. THIRD VOYAGE CONTINUED.

In case of separation, Clerke was ordered to cruise for five days near
where his consort had been last seen, and then to steer for New Albion
(so-called by Sir Francis Drake), endeavouring to fall in with it about
latitude 45 degrees North, and there cruise for ten days; then, if his
consort was not picked up, to proceed north to the first suitable port
and recruit his men, keeping a good look-out for his companion. Then he
was to sail on 1st April to 56 degrees North, and again cruise about
fifteen leagues from the coast till 10th May, when he was to proceed
north and endeavour to find a passage to the Atlantic, according to the
Admiralty instructions already in his hands. If unsuccessful he was to
winter in some suitable port of Kamtschatka, leaving word with the
commandant of St. Peter and St. Paul Harbour, where he was to be found,
and to be at the last-named place not later than 10th May of the
following year. Then, if he had no news of the Resolution, he was to
follow out the Admiralty instructions to the best of his ability.

The