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In this state of the weather and before sunrise , in the grey of the morning , we had to wade off , nearly up to our hips in water , to load the skiff with the wood by armsfull . I got my oil-cloth clothes , south-wester , and thick boots all ready , and turned into my hammock early , determined to get some sleep in advance , as the boat was to be alongside before daybreak . This was a windfall for us , for they had a set of new songs for the capstan and fall , and ours had got nearly worn out by six weeks ' constant use . It corresponded , too , with the desolate character of her situation ; - alone , as she was , battling with storms , wind , and ice , at this extremity of the globe , and in almost constant night . There was , however , too much to do to allow time to think ; for the gale of yesterday , and the heavy seas we met with a few days before , while we had yet ten degrees more southing to make , had convinced the captain that we had something before us which was not to be trifled with , and orders were given to send down the long topgallant masts .