ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 331 



was becoming a critical one, in case a gale should ensue. I therefore 

 looked carefully over my chart, and was surprised at the vast number 

 of icebergs that appeared on it. At 2 p. m. the barometer began to 

 fall, and the weather to change for the worse. At 5 p. m. a gale was 

 evidently coming on, so we took three reefs in the topsails. It ap- 

 peared now that certain wreck would ensue, should we remain where 

 we were ; and after much consideration, I made up my mind to 

 retrace my way, and seek the open space forty miles distant, taking 

 for a landmark a remarkable berg that had been the last entered on 

 the chart, and which would be a guide to my course out. I therefore 

 stood for its position. The weather was so thick, that it was neces- 

 sary to run close to it, to be quite sure of recognising it, for on this 

 seemed to depend our safety. About the estimated time we would 

 take to pass over the distance, an iceberg was made (we were within 

 one thousand feet of it) which, at first view, I felt confident was the 

 one sought, but was not altogether satisfied afterwards. I therefore 

 again consulted my chart, and became more doubtful of it. Just at 

 that moment I was called on deck by an officer, who informed me 

 that there were icebergs a short distance ahead ! Such proved to be 

 the case ; our path was beset with them, and it was evident we could 

 not regain our route. To return was worse, so having but little 

 choice left, I determined to keep on. To encounter these icebergs 

 so soon after seeing the other, was in some respects satisfactory, for it 

 removed all doubts, and showed me that we were not near the track 

 by which we entered. Nothing, therefore, was to be done but to 

 keep a good look-out, and the ship under sufficient way to steer well ; 

 my safest plan was to keep as near our former track as possible, 

 believing it to be most free of these masses. 



At 8 p. m. it began to blow very hard, with a violent snow-storm, 

 circumscribing our view, and rendering it impossible to see more 

 than two ship's-lengths ahead. The cold was severe, and every 

 spray that touched the ship was immediately converted into ice. At 

 9 p. m., the barometer still falling and the gale increasing, we reduced 

 sail to close-reefed fore and main-topsails, reefed foresail, and trysails, 

 under which we passed numerous icebergs, some to windward, and 

 some to leeward of us. At 10 h 30 ,n , we found ourselves thickly beset 

 with them, and had many narrow escapes; the excitement became 

 intense ; it required a constant change of helm to avoid those close 

 aboard ; and we were compelled to press the ship with canvass in 

 order to escape them, by keeping her to windward. We thus passed 



