A SECOND GALE. 
143 
ice, as a strong southerly breeze had sprung up, and 
squally weather set in, of which advantage was taken ; 
as it was considered that any further stay in these icy 
regions would not only be attended with peril to the 
vessel, but would cause a delay in time, which was 
required for other services, and having nearly 3000 
miles to sail to our next port (Melbourne), course 
was altered to the northward, and throughout the 
remainder of the day good progress was made. 
Feb. 26^/i. — Hove-to this morning for dredging 
from a depth of 1300 fathoms. The wind and sea, 
however, gave evidence we were in for another blow 
before leaving these regions, lest we should think 
too lightly of the dangers of ice navigation. The 
dredge was quickly hauled in before it had reached 
the bottom. We then steamed under the lee of a large 
iceberg, which somehow or other we ran into, carry- 
ing away our jib-boom and head-gear. Some little 
excitement now prevailed, for the weather had 
become so thick with the falling snow that we 
could scarcely see 100 yards’ distance. Steam was 
ready, and the ship hove-to, drifting to leeward 
before the storm, with the certainty, as we were 
perfectly surrounded by icebergs, of sooner or later 
coming across the path of one of them. In the 
afternoon, during the worst part of the gale, one 
of these great ice islands was seen looming through 
the mist, close to, and directly to leeward of us. 
With the engines going at full speed, the ship just 
