AI’P. N° V.] OF THE SHIP HERCULES. 
443 
On the 17th of August, in latitude 73° 30 1 , fell in with 
the King George of London, and, being late in the season, 
we agreed to keep company. This ship had three fish, 
about 35 tons of blubber, that were taken in the fore part 
of the season. 
Thursday, Aug. 22d.—We came to a compact barrier 
of floes and loose ice to the NE., and proceeded to the 
westward, keeping to the northward as much as possible. 
Had stormy weather all night, and in the morning (Friday 
23d), having an increasing gale from the eastward, accom¬ 
panied with thick weather, it was necessary to make first; 
and accordingly both ships were secured to the best floe 
we could find. At 11 a. m. the gale was very heavy, with 
much rain. The floes slueing about endangered us; but, 
fortunately, having the advantage of a good natural dock, 
in which we moored head and stern, we were able to keep 
clear of the floe when brought to windward, where there was 
only windlipper on the weather edge. The other ship, in 
the act of shifting under a point of the floe, had the mis¬ 
fortune to go adrift, and, endeavouring to set his main-top¬ 
sail, it blew to shivers. On seeing this, and knowing his 
ship’s company were not in the best of spirits, I instantly 
sent a boat and crew on board to their assistance, and they got 
to windward again, after about three hours of complete hard 
beating amongst heavy ice. In the mean time, we made a 
good hole, and placed ice-anchors in readiness for him to 
catch hold of. At 8 r. m. the gale abated, and we had 
moderate weather. 
Saturday, Aug. 24.—Had light easterly winds and fog 
all the day, so that we lay fast to the floe. 
Sunday, Aug. 25.—At 9 a. m., having fine clear wea¬ 
ther, with a light wind from the northward, both ships cast 
off, and proceeded to the westward, amongst sailing ice. 
