Sighting the Whales. ?j! 



observed, it was a mass of floating bergs, in which 

 we were, for a time, hopelessly jammed. 



Though there was a fresh breeze blowing at the 

 time, and the ship had every stitch of canvas that it 

 was possible to set, with the engines going ahead 

 full speed, we were immovable for at least twenty- 

 five or thirty minutes. From the deck, as far as 

 the eye could reach, the ice was continuous, even 

 the wake of the ship being closed up. 



Eventually, by dint of screwing and boring, we 

 succeeded in forcing our way through this stream 

 of ice, and reached the clear water, or polynia, ahead, 

 though not without experiencing a little rough hand- 

 ling — collisions by which the ship was brought to a 

 standstill — sufficiently serious to damage any ordi- 

 narily built ship. 



- Shortly after four, our observant and ever-watch- 

 ful captain espied three whales from the crow's nest. 

 Instantly all was excitement ; the main-topsail was 

 backed, and four boats quickly lowered and in chase. 

 No sooner had they left the ship than other whales 

 were seen, and by five o'clock every boat in the 

 ship was away and in pursuit. Though the whales 

 were numerous, and the harpooneers used their 

 utmost exertions, they were unable to approach 

 sufficiently near to strike. It was, therefore, with 

 the greatest reluctance, after five hours' ceaseless 

 pulling, that the captain ordered the boats to be re- 

 called. We must ascribe our want of success to-day 



