We were so delighted that we gave three cheers, which were not heard aboard the other boats owing to the roar of the surf.

However, we soon joined them and were able to exchange experiences on the beach." Our experiences on the 'James Caird' had been similar, although we had not been able to keep up to windward as well as the 'Dudley Docker' had done.

This was fortunate as events proved, for the 'James Caird' and 'Stancomb Wills' went to leeward of the big bight the 'Dudley Docker' entered and from which she had to turn out with the sea astern.

We thus avoided the risk of having the 'Stancomb Wills' swamped in the following sea.

The weather was very thick in the morning.