62 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
ships, had, in the spring of the year, met together 
on the borders of the ice, about sixty miles to the 
eastward of the island, Jan Mayne. On the twenty- 
ninth of March, the weather being moderate, the 
whole fleet penetrated within some streams of ice, 
and sent out their boats in search of seals. While 
they were thus engaged, a dreadful storm suddenly 
arose ; so sudden and furious indeed was its com- 
mencement, and so tremendous and lasting its con- 
tinuance, that almost all the people that were at 
a distance from their ships perished. A ship, named 
the Duke of York, had two boats out at this time ; 
the crews of these having, by the utmost exertion, 
rowed up to the ship, held fast by the rudder-rings« 
being unable to make their way along side ; here 
they remained for some time, but, at length, the 
force of the waves becoming too great for their be- 
numbed grasp, they lost their hold, and drove astern. 
The chief mate of the ship, a resolute and noble 
tar, seeing that his shipmates, if not immediately 
succoured, would perish, determined to rescue 
them at the hazard of his own life. Having man- 
ned a boat with six stout seamen, besides himself, 
he proceeded to their assistance. On reaching 
them, he exchanged four of his vigorous crew for 
two of his fainting ship-mates in each boat ; thus 
reinforced, the three boats by the powerful exer- 
tions of their crews, were brought to the stern of 
the ship. Beyond this point the increase of the 
waves, and the rapid drift of the ship, prevented 
their advancing, while their companions on board 
