The dreadful certainty now flashed upon the minds of Mr.Smith and Coles, and I waited to see what effect it would have upon them.

Coles did not bear the surprise so well as I had expected; he dashed the spade upon the ground with almost ferocious violence, and looking up to me he said, "All lost, Sir! we are all lost, Sir!" Mr.Smith stood utterly calm and unmoved; I had not calculated wrongly upon his courage and firmness.

His answer to Coles was, "Nonsense, Coles, we shall do very well yet; why, there is a cask of salt provisions and half a cask of flour still left." I now rallied Coles upon his conduct; compared it with that of Mr.Smith, and told him that when I had taken him on to the depot in preference to the other men it had been in the expectation that, if any disaster had happened, he would, by his coolness and courage, have given such an example as would have exercised a salutary influence upon the others.
This had the desired effect upon him; he became perfectly cool and collected and promised to make light of the misfortune to the rest, and to observe the strictest discipline.

I then requested Mr.Smith to see the little flour that was left in the barrel and on the rocks carefully collected by Coles, and, leaving them thus engaged, I turned back along the sea shore towards the party; glad of the opportunity of being alone as I could now commune freely with my own thoughts.
ALARMING POSITION AND PROSPECTS.

REPAIR DAMAGES, AND RETURN TO THE MAIN.
The safety of the whole party now depended upon my forming a prompt and efficient plan of operations, and seeing it carried out with energy and perseverance.