VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
159 
the fog dispersed, we discerned a lead, and there 
being a strong breeze we availed ourselves of its 
advantage ; in a difficult part of the navigation, the 
main-top gallant yard was carried away by a brace 
running foul. . Our course was now south-east, and 
about mid-day we fell in with the Exmouth, which 
changed its course to be again our companion. 
In the navigation of this most dangerous sea, it is 
from the perilous qualities of the ice, a matter of 
great consolation to have a vessel in company, 
because in the event of one ship being crushed . 
by the pressure of the ice, it must be abandoned 
by the crew, who, if another helping hand were 
not nigh, nor any retreat attainable, would perish 
from the rigour of the climate. 
The wind increasing, and the weather getting 
clear, we had a fine and rapid run to the eastward, 
through the mazy windings of the ice, making up- 
wards of seven degrees of longitude in the space of 
the day. Just before the mid- watch was set a ship 
was seen sailing towards us, which, on hailing, we 
found to be the Eber of Hull, one of the vessels 
which we had, on the 14th of June, seen beset in 
the ice ; we also heard that our fears respecting the 
ships which we then observed to be in a precarious 
state were not groundless, as the sides of this vessel 
had been much crushed in, while held for several 
days in frozen durance in so perilous a situation, 
that all its boats were hove out upon the ice, in 
preparation for the fatal consequences which were 
expected. 
