OLD WHALING DAYS. 15 



to the ship. Night again came on with our work unfinished, 

 for we had only got one boat's lines out of four, and we were 

 very tired and wet when we turned in. 



A .startling change occurred in the night. The wind 

 blew a heavy gale off the land, and the ice drifted out of 

 the Bay. Our anchor had got foul of a rock. We could 

 not heave it up, so we slipped it. The night was very 

 dark, the wind blew heavy, with squalls and showers of 

 blinding snow. The channel was narrow and shoaled on 

 the north side. On the south side it was rocky, which made 

 it very difficult and dangerous to navigate. These serious 

 dangers were greatly increased by the close proximity of the 

 ships to one another. It was indeed a most unfortunate 

 predicament to be in. By the exercise of great care we got 

 clear of the land a few miles, and lay to until daylight. We 

 were anxious for the lives of those who had left us, for we 

 knew that if they had failed to reach the other ships in the 

 open, their safety would be greatly imperilled by exposure 

 to the dangers which had set us free. Daylight broke at 

 length, for which we were thankful. The hardships we 

 were enduring tried the strongest constitution. Cheered by 

 the light of another day, and more moderate weather, we 

 ran to the southward, but saw no signs of boats or ships. 

 At Cape Searle, however, our hearts were gladdened at 

 sighting our consorts not many miles from us. We spoke 

 the first vessel as soon as practicable, and we were told that 

 all the men were safe, but had lost both clothes and boats, 

 having had to leave them upon the ice and run for their 

 lives before the gale and darkness set in. 



The reader may perhaps wonder why the men were 

 obliged to leave us. The ships were all well provisioned, 

 but not sufficiently for wintering in Davis's Straits. When 

 the seven ships were pinned by the ice in the harbour, 

 there was not sufficient food on board for the support of 

 forty-five men, which composed each crew, for eighteen 



