474 WHALE-FISHERY. 



could not be guided ! The rudder was become 

 perfectly useless, — so that, with the most appro- 

 priate disposition of the sails possible, and the re- 

 quisite position of the helm, the ship could not be 

 turned round or diverted in the least from the 

 course in which the impetus of the wind on the 

 sails was the most naturally balanced. This was 

 an alarming disappointment. However, as the ship 

 was in such constant danger of being crushed in 

 the situation where she lay, the John, with the 

 greatest difficulty imaginable, towed us three or four 

 miles to the eastward into a place of comparative 

 safety. Under other circumstances, it would have 

 afforded matter of much amusement to see the 

 singular way in which the Esk was drawn forward. 

 She could not be brought to proceed fifty yards on 

 the same course, notwithstanding the most prompt 

 and appropriate adaptation of the sails and helm, 

 but continued sheering from side to side to the 

 utmost extent that the rope, by which she was 

 towed, would allow. On one occasion, this rope 

 was broken, and we were obliged repeatedly to slack 

 it out, to prevent a recurrence of the accident. 

 About 10 A. M. we moored to another sheet of ice, 

 and immediately proceeded to attempt a rectifica- 

 tion of the ship's steerage. For this purpose we 

 unshipped the rudder and hoisted it upon deck, 

 where we applied an additional piece to the lower 

 and back part of it, consisting of a surface of about 



1 



