Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/141

 directions, and streamed up and down like the lightning’s fitful glare. It would thicken at times like fog, and shut out from view the brilliant stars. Canopus and the Southern Cross were in the zenith at the time. While lying on our backs on the deck and looking up, we could command the entire magnificent view.

February 18. Wind easterly, sea smooth. During the day had several snow squalls. The snow that fell was in the form of a regular, six-pointed star.

February 19. Weather fair, sea very smooth; ship surrounded by many icebergs. Much anxiety existed among the officers lest the ship should be hemmed in  by these frozen bulwarks.

February 20. This morning our hearts were made glad by feeling a slight swell of the sea with a little breeze  from the sou’east. By nine we had worked the  ship through many narrow passages between the icebergs  into clear water, latitude 63° south, longitude 101° east.

February 21. Weather moderate with light westerly winds. At eight bells every appearance of bad weather. At two bells all hands called to muster, when the commodore thanked us for our exertions and good behavior during the trying scenes we had passed through, and  congratulated us on the success that had attended us. He said that he should represent our conduct in the most favorable light to the government, and that he had  no doubt that the government would grant us a suitable  reward for our past services. He also informed us that he had determined to bear up and return north; so the  ship’s head was pointed towards New Zealand, three  thousand miles distant. After giving three cheers for