420 A rctic and Antarctic Exploration [part ii 
The only chance was to pass between the bergs. This 
was happily accomplished. She dashed through the 
narrow channel between two perpendicular walls of ice, 
and the next moment she was safe in smooth water 
under their lee. As Sir James said, "the necessity of 
constant and energetic action to meet the momentarily 
varying circumstances of our situation left us no time to 
reflect on our imminent danger/' 
Sir James Ross then shaped a direct course round 
Cape Horn to the Falkland Islands before strong westerly 
gales, and on April 6th the two ships sailed up Berkeley 
Sound and anchored in Port Louis. Commander Crozier 
and Lieutenant Bird had been promoted, and Smith 
the Mate had also received his Lieutenancy. Lieutenant 
M'Murdo was invalided, and Lieutenant Sibbald took 
his place on board the Terror. On the 22nd June the 
Carysfort, Captain Lord George Paulet, arrived, with a 
large supply of provisions sent by Commodore Purvis, 
as well as a new bowsprit. 
The refitting of the Erebus and Terror proceeded 
steadily, and by the end of July both ships were in good 
order and ready for sea. During the stay of the Antarctic 
Expedition at the Falkland Islands the Governor, Captain 
Moody, supported by the opinion of Sir James Ross, 
removed the settlement from Port Louis to Port William, 
Lieutenant Sibbald was left at Port William to carry on 
a system of magnetic observations upon such a plan as 
to secure a satisfactory record, while the ships proceeded 
to Cape Horn for synchronous observations. 
On the 8th September, 1842, the Erebus and Terror 
sailed from Port William, and encountered very severe 
weather during their voyage towards Cape Horn. But 
the day was fine when they sighted the famous promon- 
tory on the 18th, passing it at a distance of a mile and a 
half and anchoring off St Martin's Cove in 55° 51' 20" S., 
67 0 32' 10" W. An observatory was set up on Hermit 
Island. While the magnetic work was proceeding, Dr 
Hooker made a specially interesting botanical collection. 
On November 13th the expedition returned to the Falk- 
land Islands, meeting the Philomel, Captain Sulivan, who 
was engaged in surveying the group. The Falkland Islands 
were left again on the 17th December for a third visit to 
