THE ATLANTIC. 13 



On the forenoon of the IGth^ the Snap ^^^^- 

 came and took us in tow, but at noon on the *^^^-^' 

 17th strong breezes and a heavy swell obliged 

 us again to cast off. We scudded while able, 

 but our depth in the water caused us to ship so 

 many heavy seas, that I most reluctantly 

 brought-to under storm stay-sails. This was 

 rendered exceedingly mortifying, by observ- 

 ing that our companion was perfectly dry^^ 

 and not affected by the sea. The wind mo- 

 derated at night, but continued fresh with 

 a heavy swell all the 18th, on the evening of 

 which day a thick fog set in, and continued 

 until late on the 19th, when the Snap again 

 took us in tow. During the blowing weather 

 we saw many flocks of cape-hens sitting "un- 

 concernedly on the water, with their heads to the 

 wind. We had a tolerable run until ten P.M. 

 on the 20th, when, in a dense fog, we cast off. 

 Thick weather, with rain and fogs, had now 

 become so prevalent, that I judged it no longer 

 prudent to keep the Snap a-head of us, unless 

 we had a clear sight of the horizon, as on 

 the event of her coming suddenly on a pack of 

 ice, she might have received considerable in- 

 jury. 



On the 21st the wind veered to the north- 

 west, whence it blew hard for a few hours ; and 



