In the afternoon we sighted masses, islets they might be called, of ice, drifting slowly southward, but these were not yet of considerable extent or altitude.

These packs were easy to avoid; they could not interfere with the sailing of the _Halbrane_.

But, although the wind had hitherto permitted her to keep on her course, she was not advancing, and it was exceedingly disagreeable to be rolling about in a rough and hollow sea which struck our ship's sides most unpleasantly.
About two o'clock it was blowing a hurricane from all the points of the compass.

The schooner was terribly knocked about, and the boatswain had the deck cleared of everything that was movable by her rolling and pitching.
Fortunately, the cargo could not be displaced, the stowage having been effected with perfect forecast of nautical eventualities.

We had not to dread the fate of the _Grampus_, which was lost owing to negligence in her lading.