24 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



to be driving with rapidity towards some 

 of the larger masses; the stern-boats of 

 this ship and of the Wear were despatched 

 to assist in towing her clear of them. At 

 ten, a momentary clearness presented the 

 land distinctly at the distance of two miles ; 

 the ship was quite unmanageable, and under 

 the sole governance of the currents, which 

 rah in strong eddies between the masses of 

 ice. Our consorts were also seen, the 

 Wear being within hail, and the Eddystone 

 at a short distance from us. Two attempts 

 were ineffectually made to gain soundings, 

 and the extreme density of the fog precluded 

 us from any other means of ascertaining the 

 direction in which we were driving until 

 half past twelve, when we had the alarming 

 view of a barren rugged shore within a few 

 yards, towering over the mast heads. 

 Almost instantly afterwards the ship struck 

 violently on a point of rocks, projecting 

 from the island; and the ship's side was 

 brought so near to the shore, that poles 

 were prepared to push her off. This blow 

 displaced the rudder, and raised it several 



