chap. xxii. WATERSPOUT. 291 



followed each other rapidly, and rain came down in 

 torrents. A still more extraordinary sight presented itself 

 shortly afterwards — a waterspout. About half a mile from 

 the ship the clouds came down in a funnel, and deluges of 

 rain appeared to fall under it, the sea being lashed into 

 foam as if ten thousand millstones had been suddenly hurled 

 into it. It was some hours before the wind settled down 

 again ; but it proved to be a favourable one, and we made 

 fair progress homewards through a Scotch mist from the 

 Arctic ice. 



For two days we had fog and fair wind, then came wind 

 and sunshine. On the 3rd of August a few flocks of phalaropes 

 passed overhead, and on the 4th a pair of snowy owls alighted 

 on the ship. We saw also several kittiwake gulls and Pom- 

 merine skuas. Then from the 8th of August to the 29th 

 came three dreary weeks, during which the ship wearily 

 toiled on, against heavy gales and contrary winds ; ever and 

 anon would come a fair breeze, to prevent us despairing 

 altogether of ever reaching Elsinore. It seemed hopeless 

 often enough. Various were the tacks the captain tried on 

 the way. One day we would lie-to with head to wind, and 

 let the good ship drift back with the heavy gale towards 

 Colguif; another we would tear along, blown forward by 

 an equally fierce wind, which we welcomed, for it was bear- 

 ing us homeward. Now we would lie motionless with sails 

 idly flapping against the masts, and again we would be cut- 

 ting the water with a favourable breeze impelling us on. As 

 we approached the Cape the weather grew wilder, it seemed 

 as if we could never round it ; the bold promontory appeared 



