142 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
rendered our position very perilous. Steam was 
at command in four boilers ; it was as much as the 
engines at full speed could do to keep station, and 
in a position considered safe from the ice. The 
barometer fell to 28*9, and the wind rose to a force 
of 10 ; soon there was a heavy and turbulent sea. 
As the darkness of the night closed, the wind mode- 
rated ; still it was a very critical time, and all felt 
glad when daylight arrived, as we were then enabled 
to shape a course for the pack under sail. From 
the direction the wind had been blowing, the ice at 
its edge was scattered and sufficiently open to allow 
us to push on to within 15 miles of the supposed 
Wilkes’ Termination Land ; although, having a clear 
horizon, no indication of it could be seen, we sailed 
for two or three hours, picking our way among blocks 
of loose ice, varying in size from 5 or 6 feet to 
60 feet across, and which no doubt are kept separate 
by the continual motion of the long swell. Their 
depth below the surface did not appear to exceed 
20 feet. The greater part was washed into all sorts 
of fantastic forms, and showed evidences of decay 
and the length of time they had been in the water. 
In addition to this, hundreds of icebergs could be 
seen from the masthead. Having now gone as far 
as practicable in an undefended ship, course was 
altered, and once more we reached clear water. The 
weather was getting very unsettled ; it was therefore 
deemed useless to remain in proximity to so much 
