i 3 4 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



After grappling our way amongst numerous icebergs and 

 small islands, we came close to Berry's Island, which is the 

 outer one of the group. The weather cleared but the wind 

 was still blowing. There was no possibility of getting 

 through the floes, which had closed within the last few 

 hours, but we could plainly see the water to the northward, 

 and it was with heavy hearts we were obliged to make fast 

 to an iceberg close to the island. The wind was still strong 

 from the S.W., but the weather was clear, and we knew the 

 northern fleet would be making the best of their way towards 

 Melville Bay. The wind again increased in force, with thick 

 snow, but we were sheltered by a reef of bergs which broke 

 all pressure from the fast drifting floes. This weather con- 

 tinued for twelve hours, when the wind fell and it became calm 

 and clear. The floes in the offing were still drifting north- 

 ward, shewing that there must have been much water in that 

 direction. We hourly expected an opening in the ice, but 

 this did not occur .until the wind changed to the N.E., but 

 it did not slacken the ice near us until the following day. 

 Owing to the wind being ahead, we were obliged to warp 

 from one berg to another, which was a very tedious process. 



We ran out a boat's lines and sometimes more, according 

 to the distance between them, and tracked along the deck 

 in this manner. After warping ten hours, we got into clear 

 water, set our sails and plied northward. After passing the 

 Duck Islands, we came in sight of the Devil's Thumb, and 

 made fast to the land floe. 



A few miles to the westward there was a deep bight, and 

 we held a consultation on board one of the ships which 

 would be the most prudent course to take, so we concluded 

 to remain by the fast ice. Caution and prudence are always 

 necessary, but cannot at all times be put into practice. In 

 this case, if we had gone amongst the loose floes to the west- 

 ward we could not have been worse than we were, as it 

 afterwards proved. 



