CHAP. V.] GALE. 265 



7° + , and the one in shade 14° — . At l h p. m. 

 the blackened thermometer was as high as 41° + . 

 The day passed quietly over, and at last, for the 

 first time for many nights, I enjoyed the comfort 

 of unloading myself from a stack of clothes. 



At noon of the 9th a visible progress had been 

 made along the land, the south extreme of a high 

 bluff bearing S. 38° W. The afternoon was 

 rather fine ; and though there was no perceptible 

 motion on the surface, yet the two large pieces 

 of ice opened apart almost athwart the stern, 

 and within only a few paces from it. This 

 was done quietly, and directly against the force 

 of the wind ; but when the ship began to set to 

 the S.E., as she did at a little past 4 h p. m., they 

 closed again, occasioning a strain upon the 

 larboard quarter. From that time the breeze 

 freshened rapidly from the N.E., a point from 

 which it was least desired, as it brought the 

 whole force of the windward ice against the 

 broadside. At 7 h 30 m p.m. there was a strong 

 gale, and squalls in quick succession, driving 

 the low scud over the young moon with great 

 velocity. The natural accompaniments were 

 not remote, and soon announced in grating 

 sounds their impetuous and destructive march. 

 I beheld two enormous masses, one of which 

 had hitherto resisted every attack to thrust it 

 from its place, hurled onward across the stern, 



