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Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“

           Woulditsbasebesufficientlyunderminedtoallowittodetachitself?Perhapssomeheavymassoficemightstrikeitandsetitfreebytheshock.Noonecouldpredictsuchanevent,andwehadonlytheHalbranetorelyuponforgettingusoutoftheseregions.

           Wewereengagedinthesevarioustasksuntilthe24thofJanuary.Theatmospherewasclear,thetemperaturewaseven,andthethermometerhadindeedgoneuptotwoorthreedegreesabovefreezing-point.Thenumberoficebergscomingfromthenor’-westwasthereforeincreasing;therewerenowahundredofthem,andacollisionwithanyofthesemighthaveamostdisastrousresult.Hardy,thecaulker,hastenedfirstofalltomendthehull;pegshadtobechanged,bitsofplankingtobereplaced,seamstobecaulked.Wehadeverythingthatwasnecessaryforthiswork,andwemightrestassuredthatitwouldbeperformedinthebestpossiblemanner.Inthemidstofthesilenceofthesesolitudes,thenoiseofthehammersstrikingnailsintotheside,andthesoundofthemalletstuffingtowintotheseams,hadastartlingeffect.Sea-gulls,wildduck,albatross,andpetrelsflewinacircleroundthetopofthebergwithashrillscreaming,andmadeaterribleuproar.

           WhenIfoundmyselfwithWestandthecaptain,ourconversationnaturallyturnedonoursituationandhowtogetoutofit,anduponourchancesofpullingthrough.Thematehadgoodhopesthatifnoaccidentoccurredthelaunchingwouldbesuccessfullyaccomplished.

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