OLD WHALING DAYS. 183 



contact with the bergs which were aground, and splitting 

 into pieces. We were very thankful that we had got into 

 such a good position, before the gale commenced, or the 

 Diana would have followed many a noble ship to the 

 bottom of Melville Bay. 



After the gale came a calm, and the ice parted, leaving 

 us about one and a quarter miles from the edge. 

 We carried the ice-saws and triangles to the outside and 

 commenced sawing towards the ship, and were occupied 

 in this work twenty hours ; then had four hours rest. 

 This went on three days, when we were only half way to 

 the ship. It was a very slow process, yet I never heard a 

 murmur, as everybody knew it was necessary. At the end 

 of the third day, we had been resting an hour, when all 

 hands were called. The ice had parted close to our bows, 

 thereby saving us a great deal of time and labour in getting 

 the ship clear. The sawing had weakened the ice, and a 

 change of current effected the rest. We were now all 

 busy launching the boats, getting our clothes, provisions, 

 etc., on board. In a short time we were steaming out of 

 our prison, but only got two miles away and made fast 

 again. The ice remained stationary to the northward, but 

 was altering very much to the southward. 



The weather was fine, clear, and calm. There was a 

 strong mirage in the north-west, which looked to an 

 inexperienced person to be a body of water in that direction, 

 but watching it intently a short time, it would change its 

 appearance to a solid mass of ice. This caused a divided 

 opinion, the captain and I could not trace the least signs of 

 water in the north-west ; the other officers said they were 

 certain there was a body of water not far off, but the captain 

 very soon decided which way to go. He was not the man 

 to be persuaded by his officers, unless he was sure they 

 were right ; owing to his long experience everybody knew 

 his ideas were the best. This shews how some people 



