The sailing directions for entering the bay were to bring the fronts of these structures in range, and proceed for a time on the course indicated.
Mr.Pennant had obtained this bearing after he had backed the boat a few feet.

The depth of water then informed him that he was in the channel.
But he had no intention of again approaching the fort, and he headed the boat to the south-east, or nearly so, and then ordered the men to give way.

He called the attention of the coxswain to the range, and directed him to keep it.

The bowman was required to keep the lead going all the time.
"Ten and a half feet!" reported the bowman.
"That is the shoalest we shall get," added the officer.
The crew had been ordered to ease off, and the cutter moved very slowly.
A quarter of an hour later the sounding was ten and three-quarters feet.
The next report was fourteen feet, and then no bottom at twenty feet.
The Bronx was approaching the boat with full steam, and stopped her screw a short distance from the cutter.

In a few moments more the boat was at the davits, and the commander of the expedition reported to Captain Passford.
"What have you here, Mr.Pennant ?" asked the commander with a smile, as he pointed to Uncle Job, who seemed to be as bashful as a young girl, and utterly confounded by what he saw on the deck of the Bronx.
"That is Uncle Job, Captain Passford," replied the lieutenant.