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The decks were covered with snow , and there was a constant driving of sleet . The outhaul block gave way , and the topmast studding-sail boom bent in a manner which I never before supposed a stick could bend . We thought there must be a sail in sight , and that we were about to heave-to and speak her ; and were just congratulating ourselves upon it - for we had seen neither sail nor land since we had left port - when we heard the mate 's voice on deck , ( he turned-in " all standing , " and was always on deck the moment he was called , ) singing out to the men who were taking in the studding-sails , and asking where his watch were . The ship was cased in ice , - decks , sides , masts , yards , and rigging . This , of course , put an end to the project , for the present ; for a thick fog and a gale blowing dead ahead are not the most favorable circumstances for the passage of difficult and dangerous straits . Having a fine wind , we were soon up with and passed the latitude of the Cape , and having stood far enough to the southward to give it a wide berth , we began to stand to the eastward , with a good prospect of being round and steering to the northward on the other side , in a very few days . One at a time , ( for it was a long piece of work and required many hands , ) we furled the courses , mizen topsail , and fore-topmast staysail , and close-reefed the fore and main topsails , and hove the ship to under the fore , with the main hauled up by the clewlines and buntlines , and ready to be sheeted home , if we found it necessary to make sail to get to windward of an ice island . The gallantry of Charles , Dr. Radcliffe 's plots , the knavery of " trusty Tompkins , " - in fact , every part seemed to chain their attention . With us , the chorus seemed almost to raise the decks of the ship , and might be heard at a great distance , ashore . The ship wore round fairly , the yards were steadied , and we stood off on the other tack , leaving behind us , directly under our larboard quarter , a large ice island , peering out of the mist , and reaching high above our tops , while astern ; and on either side of the island , large tracts of field-ice were dimly seen , heaving and rolling in the sea . On Sunday morning , as soon as the decks were washed , and we had got breakfast , those who had obtained liberty began to clean themselves , as it is called , to go ashore . We had now finished all our business at this port , and it being Sunday , we unmoored ship and got under weigh , firing a salute to the Russian brig , and another to the Presidio , which were both answered .