The wind, however, continued to be uniformly favourable, showing no tendency to veer to the south.

The breeze freshened now and then, and we had to take in sail.

When this occurred we saw the sea foaming along the sides of the ice packs, covering them with spray like the rocks on the coast of a floating island, but without hindering their onward march.
Our crew could not fail to be impressed by the sight of the schooner making her way through these moving masses; the new men among them, at least, for the old hands had seen such manoeuvres before.

But they soon became accustomed to it, and took it all for granted.
It was necessary to organize the look-out ahead with the greatest care.

West had a cask fixed at the head of the foremast--what is called a crow's-nest--and from thence an unremitting watch was kept.
The 16th was a day of excessive fatigue to the men.