to blow hard from the northward, with a short jumping sea, a very keen cold wind, and gloomy weather. At ten, we had to shorten sail to increasing breezes; but the sky having become more clear, enabled us to get a fine view of the magnificent mountains about Coquin Sound, which lay right ahead of us, as we stood to the north-east, on the larboard tack. One of these mountains was the celebrated Sukkertop (Sugar-loaf), which occasionally peeped out from the dense clouds, which surrounded it, in all its bold and lofty grandeur. In the morning we passed three icebergs, one of them very large; and at six P. M. saw another one to leeward of us. As the wind increased and sea began to rise, the ship was tacked to the westward, and stood off the land. The evening closed in with cold and disagreeable weather, rendered still more so, in appearance, by the now almost constant daylight through the whole twenty-four hours. Hitherto we had met no ice, except the few bergs mentioned; but it was necessary now to keep a sharp look-out for it, and consequently all hands were on the alert. Wednesday 10th. This day the wind was fair, and proved a fine steady breeze from the south-west, running us rapidly past the land at seven or eight miles per hour. In the morning some sleet and WHALE FISH ISLANDS. 61 snow fell; but after noon the weather became much warmer. We were now preparing for calling at Whale Fish Islands, at which place it was hoped we should arrive on the following day, if the wind continued the same. Our dinner this day was greatly improved by some cod-fish, that had been caught early in the morning, before the wind sprang up. It was excellent eating; and I believe the fish is considered of sufficient worth and goodness to have a few vessels from Scotland employed in catching and importing them. There is one particular place on this coast where they are said to be very numerous, and some small ships have made an excellent trade of it. 62 CHAP. VI. TAKING THE FIRST ICE. -HEAVY GALES AND SNOWSTORMS. OF THE LAND. -THE SOLITARY GRAVE. MOSQUITOES. AN ARCTIC MIDNIGHT. Thursday 11th.-DURING the past night we had the same strong and favourable breeze from the southwest; and on the next morning it continued steady in that quarter, accompanied with thick hazy weather and rain. Several large icebergs were passed, and at eight A.M. we suddenly came upon a "stream ""* of ice, extending from S. E. to N. W. We had come so quickly and unexpectedly upon this "stream" (not having seen it, owing to the thick weather, until close aboard of it), that promptitude of decision and movement was absolutely necessary. It was one of those moments when the seaman comes forward, and by boldly acting, either in the one way or the other, shows what he is made of. In the present case the question instantly arose as to whether the vessel * A "stream" is an oblong collection of drift ice, the pieces of which are continuous. DANGEROUS POSITION. 63 should at once run through the ice now before her, or wait until clearer and milder weather came. It will be unnecessary to explain at length how the former or the latter might have proved best or worst: but suffice it that with the wind blowing dead upon the "stream," and a sea rising, to keep it under our lee, that is with ourselves between the wind and it, it would have been highly imprudent when there was a fair possibility of getting through it safely. The mate, as ice-master, was asked by the captain which, in his opinion, was best. He advised heaving to, to windward of it, and waiting. The second mate was then asked; and he, without knowing the other's opinion, strongly urged the necessity of running through at once. Now here were two opinions in direct opposition; which of these was the best to follow ? Captain Forsyth, using his own judgment, very wisely decided upon the latter, and accordingly run the ship on. And a pretty sight, too, it was, as the "Prince Albert," under easy and working sail, in a moment or two more entered the intricate channels that were presented to her between numerous bergs and pieces of ice, rough and smooth, large and small, new and old, dark and white. As I have stated, it was hazy weather, snowing and raining at the time; and all hands having been summoned on deck, were wrapped in their oil-skin dresses and waterproof overcoats. Standing on the topsail-yard was the second mate conning the ship; half-way up the weather rigging clung the captain, watching and directing as necessary; while aft, on the raised counter near the wheel, stood the chief mate telling the helmsman how to steer. This being the first ice in any large and continuous quantity that we had met, I looked at it with some curiosity. The moment we had entered within the outer edge of the stream the water became as smooth as a common pond on shore; and it was positively a pretty sight to see that little vessel dodging in and out and threading her way among the numerous pieces of ice that beset her proper and direct course. The ice itself presented a most beautiful appearance both in colour and form, being variegated in every direction. direction. We were soon in the very thick of it; and before five minutes had elapsed from our first taking it we could see no apparent means of either going on or retracing our steps. But it was well managed, and after about an hour's turning hither and thither, this way and that way, straight and crooked, we got fairly through, and found clear water beyond. We then hauled up for the land about Whale Fish Islands; finding, by our dead reckoning at noon, that we had got too far to the westward. This brought |