Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/214

186 necessary for our safety, it was both difficult and dangerous to employ the boats in towing the ships clear of the heavier pieces, and against which, notwithstanding all our endeavours to avoid it, the Erebus was driven with violence, but providentially escaped with little damage beyond springing the bowsprit, and having all its rigging broken or torn away; this was very soon replaced, and our wounded spar secured.

This harassing and anxious work continued during the remainder of the day, the perfect calm and heavy swell rendering us nearly helpless, whilst the sea was beating with so much force against the large blue sea-worn masses as to render our situation exceedingly critical, and the labour to the officers and crews, in trying to keep the ships clear of them, constant and excessive; nevertheless, we recognised in the peculiar character of the ice we were now amongst, that which is almost invariably found at the outer edge of a pack; and this sure prospect of a speedy release afforded us encouragement, in the assurance that all these labours were not to be in vain, and, at the same time, seemed in no small degree to stimulate to renewed exertions.

Early in the forenoon of the next day the southerly wind, which had blown feebly for some time, freshened sufficiently to give us again command of the ships, and we commenced beating to the south-west, in which direction a cloud of dark mist convinced us we should find an open sea. At noon, our observations informed us we had been