OF THE GRIPER, 99 



found that the anchors held, although the ship 1824. 



was dipping bowsprit and forecastle under, and Sept. 



taking green seas over all. These soon wetted 



every one thoroughly, and the lower deck was 



flooded before we could batten down the 



hatches. Thick falling sleet covered the 



decks to some inches in depth, and with all 



the spray, froze as it fell. 



We now perceived that the tide was setting 



past us from the north-east at the rate of two 



knots on the surface, but by its action on the 



lead-line, and even the deep sea lead which it 



swept from the bottom, it was running at a far 



more rapid rate beneath. This, in addition to 



the heavy set of the sea, strained the ship very 



much, and the bitts and windlass complained a 



great deal; the hands, therefore, remained on 



deck in readiness for all emergencies. To add 



still farther to our anxiety, two or three streams 



of ice, having some very deep solid pieces 



amongst them, were seen driving down to us 



in the evening, and threatened the loss of our 



bowsprit, which at every pitch dipped cjuite 



under water, but it only fell on light pieces, 



and all the damage we sustained, was the loss 



of the bobstays, and larboard iron bumpkin. 



The tide appeared to slack at six P.M., at 



which time we had thirteen fathoms and a half, 



H 2 



