She had made slow progress through a narrow channel, when the channel began to close up astern.
One catcher was detailed to follow astern in case any of the whales broke adrift.
The cutter could neither be hoisted owing to the sea alongside, nor moored safely astern.
The ferry after going astern went ahead again and enabled most, of the men on the launch to get on board the ferry.
We remained several miles astern and deep below her.
Under these conditions we should not be dropping constantly further and further astern.
Why could not one boat have been moored astern of the other, and then they could not have swung round and crashed?
The vessel was towed astern for about 10 minutes before the gear was freed by the cutting of one of the warps.
