302 
GREENLAND VOYAGE. 
ceased, whilst the ship yet rode “ liead-to-wind.” 
To he prepared for all events, however, we close- 
reefed the top-sails, and stowed the courses ; took 
out “ springs” from the quarters, for casting the 
ship; had axes in readiness for cutting the hawsers, 
if necessary; and made every other arrangement 
for providing against ordinary casualties, which my 
experience in similar adventures could suggest. 
About 6 p. M. the snow became so thick that 
we could scarcely see a hundred yards distinctly, 
and the wind was, if possible, more furious. Two 
small icebergs now appeared setting towards the 
ship; but as they were not of a magnitude suf¬ 
ficient to endanger us, without auxiliary pressure, 
we quietly awaited their approach. The first, 
which was about thirty-six feet above the level of 
the sea, struck the ship on the starboard quarter, 
and turned her broadside to the wind; it then 
slipped clear, after obliging us to lower three of 
our boats to preserve them, without occasioning 
us any damage whatever. The second iceberg 
approached us with more alarming rapidity ; but 
as we had not the power of getting clear of it, we 
were obliged to receive the shock upon whatever 
part of the ship it might chance to fall. It came 
in contact with the rudder, and slightly bruised 
one of its timbers ; then grazing the ship’s quar¬ 
ter and broadside, it passed forward to the bows, 
