CAPTURING THE WHALE. 117 



their utmost exertions proved unavailing. Every 

 one of tliem now considered his doom as sealed : 

 how great then must have heen their deUght, and 

 how overpowering their sensations, when, at this 

 critical juncture, a ship appeared in sight. She 

 was advancing directly towaids them ; their voices 

 were extended, and their flag displayed ; though 

 not heard, they were seen ; and their mutual courses 

 l^eing so directed as to form the speediest union, 

 a few minutes saw them in safety on the deck of 

 the Lively. 



But we must draw these interesting anecdotes to 

 a close, and we shall do so hy epitomizing a narrjv- 

 tive from the Journal of Mr. Gibson, surgeon of the 

 Trafalgar, which especially illustrates the great and 

 numerous dangers which arise from icebergs, or 

 more properly ice-islands. " August 12, 1822, 

 four, p. M. Blowing a fresh gale ■^^'ith rain ; the 

 floe to which the ship was made fast set down 

 under the lee-ice, so as to render our situation 

 perilous. Towards midnight we became unexpec- 

 tedly entangled among heavy pieces of ice and floes, 

 where the ship received some severe blows on her 

 beams. Finding it impossible to get out, we lay 

 to, and in half an hour the ship was close beset. 

 Though I retired to bed when the ship was enclosed, 

 I expected every minute to be called to quit the 

 ship. About three A. m., a large piece of ice press- 

 ing on the ship opposite my bed-cabin, broke two 

 or three of the timbers with a dismal noise. Think- 

 ing aJl was over, I sprang out of bed. On going 



