298 SIEGE OF THE SOUTH POLE 
amidst the heavy fragments of crushing bergs, over which 
the ocean rolled its mountainous waves, throwing huge 
masses one upon another, and then again burying them 
deep beneath its foaming waters, dashing and grinding 
them together with fearful violence. The awful grandeur 
of such a scene can neither be imagined nor described, 
far less can the feelings of those who witnessed it be un- 
derstood. Each of us secured our hold, waiting the issue 
with resignation to the will of Him who alone could pre- 
serve us, and bring us safely through this extreme danger ; 
watching with breathless anxiety the effect of each suc- 
ceeding collision, and the vibrations of the tottering 
masts, expecting every moment to see them give way 
without our having the power to make an effort to save 
them. 
“ Although the force of the wind had somewhat dimin- 
ished by 4 p. m., yet the squalls came on with unabated 
violence, laying the ship over on her broadside, and 
threatening to blow the storm sails to pieces ; fortunately 
they were quite new, or they never could have withstood 
such terrific gusts. At this time the Terror was so close 
to us, that when she rose to the top of one wave, the 
Erebus was on the top of the next to leeward of her; 
the deep chasm between them filled with heavy rolling 
masses; and as the ships descended into the hollow be- 
tween the waves, the main-top-sail yard of each could be 
seen just level with the crest of the intervening wave, 
from the deck of the other: from this some idea may be 
formed of the height of the waves, as well as of the peril- 
ous situation of our ships. The night now began to 
draw in, and cast its gloomy mantle over the appalling 
scene, rendering our condition, if possible, more hope- 
less and helpless than before ; but at midnight, the snow, 
