318 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



pedient to attempt to bring her head round, by hanging her to an 

 iceberg by the ice-anchors, and thus complete what had been par- 

 tially effected by the sails. The anchor was attached, but just at the 

 moment the hawser was passed on board, the ship took a start so 

 suddenly astern, that the rope was literally dragged out of the men's 

 hands before they could get a turn around the bits. 



The ship now drove stern foremost into the midst of the huge 

 masses of ice, striking the rudder a second time. This blow gave it 

 the finishing stroke, by nearly wringing off the head, breaking two of 

 the pintles, and the upper and lower brace. 



The wind now began to freshen, and the floe-ice to set upon the 

 ship ; the sails were furled, and spars rigged up and down the ship's 

 side as fenders ; attempts were again made to plant the ice-anchors, 

 for which purpose the boats were lowered ; but the confined space, 

 and the force with which the pieces of ice ground against each other 

 was so great, that the boats proved nearly as unmanageable as the 

 ship. After much exertion, however, the ice-anchors were planted, 

 and the hawser hauled taut. Here they for a time enjoyed com- 

 parative security, as the vessel hung by the anchors, which were 

 planted in a large floe ; the ice continued to close in rapidly upon 

 them, grinding, crushing, and carrying away the fenders; and the 

 wind, that had changed to seaward, rose with appearances that fore- 

 boded bad weather. 



At 10 h 30'" this security was at an end ; for the anchors, in spite of 

 the exertions of the officers and men who were near them, broke 

 loose, and the ship was again at the mercy of huge floating masses. 

 A rapid stern-board was the consequence ; and a contact with the ice- 

 island, vast, perpendicular, and as high as the mastheads, appeared 

 inevitable. 



Every possible preparation was made to meet the expected shock. 

 There was no noise or confusion, and the self-possession and admi- 

 rable conduct of the commander inspired courage and confidence in 

 all. Preparations were made to cock-bill the yards, and spars were 

 got out. 



While these preparations were going forward, the imminence of 

 the danger lessened for a while : the anchors again held, and there 

 was a hope that they might bring the vessel up before she struck. 

 This hope, however, endured but for a moment ; for the anchors, with 

 the whole body of ice to which they were attached, came in, and the 

 ship going astern, struck quartering upon a piece of ice which lay 



