em, causing them to appear like a
dark speck on the horizon. One of these icebergs (according to an entry
made in the ship's log) was stated to be five miles long and of great
height, and we were supposed to have passed it at the latter end of the
night so near that "a biscuit might be thrown upon it." I am afraid the
entry was open to criticism, and that the existence, or at any rate, the
extent of this particular iceberg might have been due to an extra glass
of grog on the mate's imagination.

We sighted no land during the voyage, except the Peak of Teneriffe, as
it emerged above a cloud; and but few vessels, and of those only two
closely. One was a Swedish barque, homeward bound, the other a large
American clipper ship. We spoke the latter when the vessels were some
miles apart, but as the courses were parallel, she being bound for
London, while we were from thence, we gradually neared, when an amusing
conversation by signals took place. Our captain, by mistake of the
signaller, invited the Yankee captain to dinner, and the reply from the
American, who good-naturedly took it as a joke, was "Bad roadstead
here." Our captain thought they were chaffing him, and had not the
mistake been discovered in time, the rencontre might not have ended as
pleasantly as it did. Our captain and second mate went on board the
Yankee, and their captain returned the visit. While this was proceeding
the two ships appeared to be sailing round each other, and the sight was
very imposing. When the ceremonies were over, and a few exchanges of
newspapers, wines, etc., were made and bearings compared, the vessels
swung round to their respective courses, up flew the sails, and a
prolonged cheer from both ships told us this little interchange of
courtesies in the midst of the South Pacific was at an end.

I think it was the same night that we experienced a very heavy gale; the
lightning, thunder, rain, and wind were terrific, and the sea ran
mountains high. I stayed on deck nearly all the night, half perished
with wet and cold; but such a storm carries with it a peculiar
attraction, and one which I could not resist. I do not know anything
more weird and impressive than the chant of the sailors hauling on the
ropes, mingled with the fierce fury of the storm, and every now and
again the dense darkness lit up by a vivid flash of lightning; the deck
appears for the moment peopled by phantoms combined with the fury of the
elements to bring destruction