330 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



close along their weather sides, and distinctly heard the roar of the 

 surf dashing against them. "We had, from time to time, glimpses of 

 their obscure outline, appearing as though immediately above us. 

 After many escapes, I found the ship so covered with ice, and the 

 watch so powerless in managing her, that a little after midnight, on 

 the 29th, I had all hands called. Scarcely had they been reported 

 on deck, when it was made known to me that the gunner Mr. Wil- 

 liamson had fallen, broken his ribs, and otherwise injured himself, on 

 the icy deck. 



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The gale at this moment was awful : we found we were passing 

 large masses of drift-ice, and ice-islands became more numerous. At 

 a little after one o'clock it was terrific, and the sea was now so 

 heavy, that I was obliged to reduce sail still further ; the fore and 

 main-topsails were clewed up ; the former was furled, but the latter 

 being a new sail, much difficulty was found in securing it. 



A seaman, by the name of Brooks, in endeavouring to execute the 

 order to furl, got on the lee yardarm, and the sail having blown over the 

 yard, prevented his return. Not being aware of his position until it 

 was reported to me from the forecastle, he remained there some time. 

 On my seeing him, he appeared stiff, and clinging to the yard and 

 lift. Spil ling-lines were at once rove, and an officer with several 

 men sent aloft to rescue him, which they succeeded in doing by 



