Launching the two torpedoes, he paddled across the narrow but rough channel, intending to plant the torpedoes for future use.

He struck under the towering cliffs of the island and pursued his way along them looking for a safe landing place.

At times he passed great openings in the cliffs, into which huge waves rolled and sounded back as though dashing against some obstruction far away in the bowels of the island, and the heavy, saline smell of seals and sea lions escaped through the openings.

At length he came to a place where he could land without being flung against the rocks.

He hauled the torpedoes up on a smooth beach, placed them carefully under a shelf of rock, removed the rubber dress and in his stocking feet began to climb the steep side of the island with the intention of discovering how far the Chilean outposts extended in his direction.