Instead, they drifted round Cape Howe, and found themselves off a desolate, inhospitable coast, without knowledge of their whereabouts, and with a scanty, rapidly diminishing stock of food.
In fear of starvation seven of them resolved to desert their companions on this lonely island near Wilson's Promontory, and treacherously sailed away with the boat while the others were asleep.

It was the sad, sick, and betrayed remnant of this forlorn hope, that Bass found on that wave-beaten rock on the 3rd January.

For five weeks the wretched men had subsisted on petrels and occasional seals.

Small prospect they had of being saved; the postponement of their doom seemed only a prolongation of their anguish.

They were nearly naked, and almost starved to death.