OLD WHALING DAYS. 125 



latitude 66^ N. The distance from each other is 184 

 miles, though neither of those places are very high. In 

 Melville Bay especially the mirage is very deceiving. One 

 can fancy seeing a body of water distinctly, with pieces 

 of ice and bergs in it. Later on it appears to be a solid 

 field of ice ; at last it proves to be a small hole of water not 

 exceeding a quarter of a mile in length. Frequently it has 

 been reported from the mast head that a body of water is 

 seen to the northward, and immediately afterwards all ice. 

 Ships at times a short distance away have very 

 fantastical appearances. Once in particular, three of us 

 were not more than a mile apart, with all our boats towing. 

 Each one could distinctly hear the other singing, and 

 distinguish the words. At times the hulls would appear to 

 be short blocks of wood, with the masts high in the air. 

 The boats had a similar appearance, with their men above 

 them. Quickly a change would take place, the ships 

 and boats were elongated, the masts and men looked like 

 specks. The same effect was also produced on icebergs 

 and other objects. 



To return to our narrative. The main body of ice 

 continued to drive gradually south. Our only chance was 

 to reach Cape Hooper and anchor in the harbour, with 

 several other ships. We sent our boats away as usual to 

 the outside. 



One day a vessel came in bringing part of the crew of the 

 s.s. Chase, belonging to Hull, which was crushed by the ice 

 and beached inside of Button Point, on the north side 

 of Pond's Bay, to try and repair her. This was the only 

 resource left for them, as the vessel would have sank if she 

 had not been put ashore. Unfortunately a strong southerly 

 wind sprang up, which caused the large floes to drive 

 her further on the land, and she became a total wreck. 

 The crew escaped in their boats to the other steamers in 

 the offing. 



