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Show 192 GUNNISON'S ISLAND- PERILOUS ADVENTURE. lucent water, and is, for its size, one of the most pleasant upon which we have landed. Immediately north, and distant but a hundred yards, is a small rocky islet, which has at one time formed a part of the main island, the bar by which they are connected being plainly visible beneath the water. The space between them forms a beautiful and romantic little bay, with deep, blue water, clear as crystal. The northern end of the main island is a nearly perpendicular cliff of black and gray limestone, between five and six hundred feet in height. Immediately upon landing, the yawl was unloaded upon the beach, as I intended to despatch her for water across the lake to the Indian Springs- the nearest point where it could be obtained without transporting it from the interior to the boat on the men's shoulders. The skiff, which had started with us from Dolphin Island, had not yet arrived, and I only waited her coming up to take from her some empty kegs, which it was desirable to fill. Toward sundown, the wind began to rise from the south- west and to blow very fresh. It gradually hauled into the west and northwest, and blew most furiously, but favourably for the destined point. Desirous of taking advantage of the gale, I directed the boat to put off without waiting any longer for the skiff, and she was soon lost to the view in the mist and gloom to leeward. The distance to the springs was about twenty miles, which may give an idea of some of the difficulties which had to be encountered in prosecuting the examination of these solitary waters. Soon after the commencement of the gale, it began to hail violently, accompanied by a darkness and mist which made me uneasy for the safety of the skiff, especially as she had been seen a short time previous about two miles to the westward. Having waited until nearly dark, I concluded that she had been blown past the island by the sudden fury of the gust, and must consequently be in great danger of being lost. We were, however, utterly powerless to aid her, and our only hope for her safety was that she might encounter the yawl, which was seen, shortly after leaving the island, to haul up suddenly to the northward. One of the lookouts reported that he thought he had seen them approaching each other far to leeward. A man sent to a commanding peak with a telescope was " almost sure" that he had seen the two boats together before the thickening mist hid every thing from view. This afforded us some relief, although we were filled with deep anxiety for the fate of our companions, all of whom were young men, and inex- |
