Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/285

] At 10, when distant between twenty and thirty miles from the land, it presented a remarkable appearance; a bank of dense clouds concealed the lower parts of the mountains, and their snowy pointed summits alone appeared above the cloud, contrasting strongly with the beautifully clear blue sky, and conveying to the mind the idea of an immensity of elevation beyond their measured height.

Our operations were retarded by a strong southwest gale, against which we struggled in vain, the whole of the next day, under our storm-sails. Such a continuance of stormy weather in the middle of summer we were not at all prepared to expect, and we could not but feel anxious as day after day of the brief season of navigation passed away without any material advance in the desired direction. At noon we were in lat. 72° 12′ S., but were driven back to the northward by the violence of the storm, which continued until noon of the following day, about twenty-five miles.

As the wind moderated the reefs were shook out of the topsails and courses, and we increased the sail with good effect, the wind having veered to the westward, so as to admit of our steering a more southerly course. New portions of land opened to our view as we proceeded to the southward. The sun shone forth with great brilliancy, the more acceptable to our feelings, perhaps, from having been so long concealed by unceasing showers of rain; and its beams were reflected from the now distant mountains in every variety of tone and modification