406 CLEARING DECKS. [CHAP.VI. 



ship's side, which again, on leaning over, pressed 

 upon it, there is reason to apprehend that few 

 would have survived that fatal crush. Wonder- 

 ful, therefore, was the whole ! and well might 

 we repeat with the Psalmist, " They that go 

 down to the sea in ships, and occupy their busi- 

 ness in great waters ; these men see the works 

 of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." 

 Who amongst us can ever forget that day ? 



The ship, though tolerably upright, had a 



trifling list to port : her draught of water, after 



the consumption of one year's food, was reduced 



only one foot, being fourteen feet eight inches 



forward, and fourteen feet seven abaft. Left to 



her own guidance, she went slowly before the 



wind, avoiding, in a remarkable manner, the 



many pieces of drift ice which surrounded her. 



At noon the weather was beautiful. I now 



heard from the carpenter, that during the time 



the ship was on her beam ends, the midship 



part of the upper deck rose up, while both the 



ends were unsupported ; a trial which, in his 



opinion, no other vessel could have withstood, 



but must inevitably have broken her back, and 



been in great danger of sinking. As soon as the 



handsTwere turned up, we commenced clearing 



the decks, and in endeavouring to stow away the 



gunner's stores, it was discovered that the water 



was pouring into the ship in two rills, which, 



