and the _St.Antonio_--that, Magelhaens began his passage.

There are many twists and divisions in the strait, and on arriving at one of the partings, Magelhaens despatched the _St.Antonio_ to explore it, while he proceeded with the other three ships along the more direct route.

The pilot of the _St.
Antonio_ had been one of the mutineers, and persuaded the crew to seize this opportunity to turn back altogether; so that when Magelhaens arrived at the appointed place of junction, no news could be ascertained of the missing vessel; it went straight back to Portugal.

Magelhaens determined to continue his search, even, he said, if it came to eating the leather thongs of the sails.
It had taken him thirty-eight days to get through the Straits, and for four months afterwards Magelhaens continued his course through the ocean, which, from its calmness, he called Pacific; taking a north-westerly course, and thus, by a curious chance, only hitting upon a couple of small uninhabited islands throughout their whole voyage, through a sea which we now know to be dotted by innumerable inhabited islands.

On the 6th March 1520 they had sighted the Ladrones, and obtained much-needed provisions.