70 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Arcrsx 



hundred feet in diameter. These being heavy enough 

 in themselves to withstand a considerable pressure, 

 became collected in front of the iceberg, and formed as 

 it were a point of heavy ice sufficiently strong to divide 

 and split up the floe, and to act as a buffer to fend 

 off the ship ; this it did in our case most successfully. 

 As the ship began to heel over with the increasing 

 pressure, and officers and men working alike had given 

 the last haul to the screw purchases, and when there 

 was nothing left for anyone to do but to look on 

 as calmly as possible waiting for what might happen, 

 the corner of the floe split off and the ship, amidst a 

 collection of debris ice, slid past the side of the berg 

 without damage ; the ' Discovery,' hidden from view 

 on the other side of the iceberg, reading the signal at 

 the masthead ' All safe.' The ships were then secured 

 by ice-anchors to the lee side of the iceberg, where 

 the faster drift of the surface ice left a small pool. 



The next thirty hours were spent in constant 

 struggles with the pack, the ships being moved from 

 the shelter of one iceberg to another as circumstances 

 rendered necessary ; and, owing to the unsteady wind 

 and the variable tidal currents, we were never quiet 

 for more than an hour at any one time. 



Had I allowed the ships to drift with the ice we 

 should have been carried to the southward deeper into 

 the pack ; there was therefore no alternative but to get 

 up full steam and be prepared to take instant advan- 

 tage of every change that might occur in our favour. 

 The ships were seldom separated for long, and now, 

 as on many other occasions, they assisted each other. 

 The ' Discovery ' was handled in the most masterly and 

 daring manner combined with great judgment, qualities 



