108 NIP AND PILING ICE. 



cision. I should leave behind me one of niy own offi- 

 cers, who knew roy intentions and habits thoroughly, 

 competent to carry out the service, should accident cut 

 me off, and who would advance, or come himself with, 

 the necessary supplies, or aid, in the event of my absence 

 being prolonged beyond a reasonable period. 



Shortly after noon he parted for the eastward, in the 

 full hope of achieving something new. I reasceuded 

 the unfortunate mountain with the same ill-success, but 

 before starting directed the tent to be struck, and the 

 bivouac shifted to the opposite side of the island. My 

 readers will, I fear, charge me with presumption, but 

 possibly I may pay the penalty before the cruise termi- 

 nates. But our business is to view all obstacles as to 

 be overcome : "nothing risk, nothing gain." 



During my detention on this southern and western 

 point, 1 happened to stray with my gun to the beach, and 

 whilst there heard the peculiar groaning of pressure, or 

 " nip." At first I was unable to distinguish from whence 

 the cause proceeded, but in a few minutes, after watch- 

 ing the dreary white sheet until vision became very im- 

 perfect, I noticed, first, an arching of the floe (prevailing 

 here from three to four feet in thickness), then its dis- 

 ruption, and the flakes of ice piling one above another 

 in slabs, until they became influenced by some greater 

 obstruction near the land. Then a very different ac- 

 tion ensued. Instead of the great slabs of ice, the op- 

 posing and unyielding forces, being nearly equal, caused 

 a comminution, and the powdered substance, resembling- 

 white sugar in appearance, tumbled down most gracefully 

 over the before-accumulated slabs, involving all in one 



