HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES 297 
the tremendous shocks they received. By backing and 
filling the sails, we endeavoured to avoid collision with 
the larger masses; but this was not always possible: in 
the early part of the storm, the rudder of the Erebus 
was so much damaged as to be no longer of any use; 
and about the same time I was informed by signal that 
the Terror's was completely destroyed, and nearly torn 
away from the stern-post. We had hoped that, as we 
drifted deeper into the pack, we should get beyond the 
reach of the tempest ; but in this we were mistaken. Hour 
passed away after hour without the least mitigation of 
the awful circumstances in which we were placed. In- 
deed, there seemed to be but little probability of our 
ships holding together much longer, so frequent and 
violent were the shocks they sustained. The loud crash- 
ing noise of the straining and working of the timbers 
and decks, as she was driven against some of the heavier 
pieces, which all the activity and exertions of our people 
could not prevent, was sufficient to fill the stoutest heart, 
that was not supported by trust in Him who controls 
all events, with dismay ; and I should commit an act of 
injustice to my companions if I did not express my 
admiration of their conduct on this trying occasion; 
throughout a period of twenty-eight hours, during any- 
one of which there appeared to be very little hope that 
we should live to see another, the coolness, steady obedi- 
ence, and untiring exertions of each individual were 
every way worthy of British seamen. 
“The storm gained its height at 2 p. m., when the 
barometer stood at 28.40 inches, and after that time 
began to rise. Although we had been forced many miles 
deeper into the pack, we could not perceive that the swell 
had at all subsided, our ship still rolling and groaning 
