The survivors of the *****were at the mercy of sharks *****

As one sailor wrote Our utmost efforts

Which were at first directed to kill him for prey

Became in the end self-defence

Now more than ever they needed the salvation of land

Seabirds would have been a ray of hope

While tropic birds can survive at sea for months on end

Others like frigate birds return to roost every night

So are a sure sign of nearby land

Guided by the sun stars and the Earth's magnetic field

Seabirds navigate over thousands of miles of featureless ocean

They must all return to land to breed

Often on little more than dots of sand

Which makes their navigational skills even more impressive