CHAPTER XIX

Summary

Tuesday, August 20th. – At seven a. m. the following day, I was on deck again, and found the ship still hove to, the wind blowing hard and a high sea running. No land could be seen anywhere, on account of the thickness of the weather. Thus we continued until noon, when it being more moderate, sail was again made, and we stood away for Port Leopold, from which we considered ourselves to be distant about 100 miles.

In the afternoon we ran through some loose ice, apparently the break up of a berg, demolished by the gale; but, except occasionally one or two small pieces, we saw nothing to interrupt us. The wind increased a little more towards evening, but it was a splendid breeze, and we were running about nine knots an hour. Not wishing to lose the advantage of so fine an opportunity of getting on, and perceiving Captain Forsyth was again, as he told me, intending to heave to, I volunteered to him to remain up on deck all night, looking out myself (as he said he had no confidence in his mate), if he would run on. This he immediately agreed to, and though I was positively wearied out by the exertions of the past day or two, and want of natural rest, I cheerfully prepared myself for the night duty. At ten p. m. Captain Forsyth retired to his cabin, and I was then left to myself on the look-out; the second mate attending to his duties as regarded the sails, &c.