Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/198

174 I was much gratified to learn from Commander Crozier, that the conduct of the officers and crew was most admirable; and certainly it is hardly possible to conceive a situation in which calmness and firmness were more necessary, or, I believe, more generally displayed.

The swell was now fast subsiding, the wind having changed to the S.W., and moderated to a fresh breeze with clear weather. On my return to the Erebus, we made more sail, and forced our way as far as we could into the thickest part of the pack, where, of course, we should find less motion; and, early in the afternoon, we got hold of a large floe piece, which we moored securely between our crippled ships; for without the aid of their rudders we found them too unmanageable to attempt to push through to the open water, whilst the ice to which we had attached them afforded facilities for their examination and repair, which could only have been accomplished in smooth water.

All hands that could assist the carpenters were now set to work, whilst as many as could be spared were sent below to get some rest, which all greatly needed, in order that a few might be refreshed and strengthened for any occasion that might require their further exertions. As we lay closely beset in the now almost motionless pack, our decks presented a scene of unusual character. The shattered rudder being hoisted on board, the