We were not so much looking out, all of us, as listening to the
utmost, both with our eyes and ears.
Next day, I found that the mercury in the barometer, which had risen
steadily since we cleared the ice, remained steady. I had had very good
observations, with now and then the interruption of a day or so, since
our departure. I got the sun at noon, and found that we were in Lat. 58
degrees S., Long. 60 degrees W., off New South Shetland; in the
neighbourhood of Cape Horn. We were sixty-seven days out, that day. The
ship's reckoning was accurately worked and made up. The ship did her
duty admirably, all on board were well, and all hands were as smart,
efficient, and contented, as it was possible to be.
When the night came on again as dark as before, it was the eighth night I
had been on deck. Nor had I taken more than a very little sleep in the
day-time, my station being always near the helm, and often at it, while
we were among the ice. Few but those who have tried it can imagine the
difficulty and pain of only keeping the eyes open--physically open--under
such circumstances, in such darkness.
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