Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/217

VII] when we tacked to the westward, the swell still running high from that quarter. The night was clear, and, for the first time, several stars were visible, warning us that the season for navigating these seas was fast drawing to its close.

At 4 a change of wind enabled us to steer to the southward and eastward; but by noon, when in latitude 68° 23′ S., and longitude 159° 52′ W., a chain of long, low, barrier-like bergs, ranging along the margin of the pack, came in sight, extending as far to the southward as the eye could discern from the mast-head. As it appeared to trend in a north and south direction at least to the distance of twelve or thirteen miles, we tacked and stood off until midnight, and then again turned the ships' heads to the southward.

The morning was dull, with light falling snow, and a moderate breeze from the westward. At 6 the pack was seen, and we bore away along its edge to the southward for three or four hours, when we perceived it stretching across our path, thus suddenly assuming a westerly trending, and forming a deep bight, in which we found ourselves embayed; we therefore set to work immediately to beat out of it as fast as the light north-west wind permitted; for to have been caught in such a situation by a gale, would have been both extremely embarrassing and perilous. At noon we were in 68° 50′ S., and longitude 160° 20′ W., the dip had increased to 81° 37′, and the variation to 29° 41′ E. Commander Crozier came on board in the