About two o'clock
In the afternoon we sighted masses , islets they might be called , of ice , drifting slowly southward , but these were not yet of considerable extent or altitude . These packs were easy to avoid ; they could not interfere with the sailing of the _ Halbrane _ . But , although the wind had hitherto permitted her to keep on her course , she was not advancing , and it was exceedingly disagreeable to be rolling about in a rough and hollow sea which struck our ship 's sides most unpleasantly . About two o'clock it was blowing a hurricane from all the points of the compass . The schooner was terribly knocked about , and the boatswain had the deck cleared of everything that was movable by her rolling and pitching . Fortunately , the cargo could not be displaced , the stowage having been effected with perfect forecast of nautical eventualities . We had not to dread the fate of the _ Grampus _ , which was lost owing to negligence in her lading .