Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/381

] and He heard our voices out of His temple, and our cry came before Him."

A gentle air of wind filled our sails; hope again revived, and the greatest activity prevailed to make the best use of the feeble breeze: as it gradually freshened, our heavy ships began to feel its influence, slowly at first, but more rapidly afterwards; and before dark we found ourselves far removed from every danger. "O Lord our God, how great are the wondrous works Thou hast done; like as be also Thy thoughts, which are to us-ward! If I should declare them and speak of them, they should be more than I am able to express."

After a day of such fatiguing anxiety we passed a peaceful night, running to the westward under moderate sail, favoured by a fresh south-east breeze and the bright light of the full moon, increased at times by brilliant exhibitions of the Aurora Australis.

Approaching the main pack early in the morning to resume its examination, we had to make our way through extensive fields of pancake ice, too tough to be penetrated except by the assistance of the strong breeze that aided us. Our course along the edge of the pack was governed by the direction it took, and which led us much more to the northward than we wished; but any attempt to penetrate to the westward would have been quite in vain,