OF THE POLAR SEA. 



13 



alarming view of a barren rugged shore within a few yards, towering 

 over the mast-heads. Almost instantly afterwards the ship struck 

 violently on a point of rocks, projecting from the island ; and the 

 ship's side was brought so near to the shore, that poles were pre- 

 pared to push her off. This blow displaced the rudder, and raised 

 it several inches, but it fortunately had been previously confined by 

 tackles. A gentle swell freed the ship from this perilous situation, 

 but the current hurried us along in contact with the rocky shore, 

 and the prospect was most alarming. On the outward bow was 

 perceived a rugged and precipitous cliff, whose summit was hid in 

 the fog, and the vessel's head was pointed towards the bottom of a 

 small bay, into which we were rapidly driving. There now seemed 

 to be no probability of escaping shipwreck, being without wind, 

 and having the rudder in its present useless state ; the only assist- 

 ance was that of a boat employed in towing, which had been placed 

 in the water between the ship and the shore, at the imminent risk 



i 



of its being crushed. The ship again struck in passing over a ledge 

 of rocks, and happily the blow replaced the rudder, which enabled 

 us to take advantage of a light breeze, and to direct the ship's head 

 without the projecting cliff. But the breeze was only momentary, 

 and the ship was a third time driven on shore on the rocky termina- 

 tion of the cliff. Here we remained stationary for some seconds, 

 and with little prospect of being removed from this perilous situa- 

 tion ; but we were once more extricated by the swell from this ledge 

 also, and carried still farther along the shore. The coast became 

 now more rugged, and our view of it was terminated by another 

 high projecting point on the starboard bow. Happily, before we had 

 reached it, a light breeze enabled us to turn the ship's head to 

 seaward, and we had the gratification to find, when the sails were 

 trimmed, that she drew off the shore. We had made but little 

 progress, however, when she was violently forced by the current 

 against a large iceberg lying aground. 



