372 THE ANTARCTIC MANUAL. 
the fog rendered everything obscure, even at a short distance from the 
ship. I knew that we were in close proximity to icebergs and field-ice, 
but from the report of the look-out, at sunset, believed that there was an 
opening or large bay leading to the southward. The ship had rapid 
way on her, and was much tossed about, when in an instant all was 
perfectly still and quiet; the transition was so sudden that many were 
awakened by it from sound sleep, and all well knew, from the short 
experience we had had, that the cessation of the sound and motion 
usual at sea was a proof that we had run within a line of ice—an 
occurrence from which the feeling of great danger is inseparable. The 
watch was called by the officer of the deck, to be in readiness to execute 
such orders as might be necessary for the safety of the ship. Many of 
those from below were seen hurrying up the hatches, and those on deck 
straining their eyes to discover the barrier in time to avoid accident. 
The ship still moving rapidly along, some faint hope remained that the 
bay might prove a deep one, and enable me to satisfy my sanguine 
hopes and belief relative to the land. 
The feeling is awful, and the uncertainty most trying thus to enter 
within the icy barrier blindfolded as it were by an impenetrable fog, 
and the thought constantly recurring that both ship and crew were in 
imminent danger ; yet I was satisfied that nothing could be gained but 
by pursuing this course. On we kept, until it was reported to me, by 
attentive listeners, that they heard the low and distant rustling of the 
ice. Suddenly a dozen voices proclaimed the barrier to be in sight, just 
ahead. The ship, which amoment before seemed as if unpeopled, from 
the stillness of all on board, was instantly alive with the bustle of 
performing the evolutions necessary to bring her to the wind, which 
was unfavourable to a return on the same track by which we had 
entered. After a quarter of an hour, the ice was again made ahead, and 
the full danger of our situation was realised. The ship was certainly 
embayed, and although the extent of sea-room to which we were limited 
was rendered invisible by the dark and murky weather, yet, that we 
were closely circumscribed was evident from having made the ice so 
soon on either tack, and from the audible rustling around us. It 
required several hours to extricate the ship from this bay. 
Few are able to estimate the feelings that such an occasion causes to 
a commander, who has the responsibility of the safety of ship and crew 
operating as a heavy weight upon his heart, and producing a feeling as 
if on the verge of some overwhelming calamity. All tends to satisfy 
him that nothing could guide him in safety through or shield from 
destruction those who have been entrusted to his charge but the hand 
of an all-wise Providence. 
17th.—In the morning we discovered a ship, apparently within a 
mile of us, to which we made signal and fired a gun, but she was shortly 
after lost sight of. We also saw the brig to the eastward, close to the 
