1853.] CRITICAL MOMENT. 27 



against each other, drifted away, leaving our vessels ad- 

 hering to the bare edge of the in-shore bay ice still we 

 thought that our stern hawsers, secured to heavy masses 

 of grounded ice, would retain her. But no ! the signal 

 for desertion was followed too closely; piece by piece 

 dropped from us, like blood from our veins, leaving us, 

 waterborne, afloat ! Even the grounded pieces followed 

 the example, denuding the surface, even to the very 

 beach ! All was confusion, and that considerably height- 

 ened by a heavy snow-storm. Once more the ship 

 was reduced to the seaman's care, and to trust to her 

 ground tackle ; but until the loose ice left the bow clear, 

 no anchor could reach the bottom ; the breeze shortly 

 effected this, impelling the ship forward with such velo- 

 city that it became doubtful, in such deep water, whether 

 the anchor could bite the loose, gravelly bottom. It bit, 

 held, and now the crisis ! she took her " trial lurch ;" it 

 was deep, and the men were much frightened ; the water 

 came in about five seams within the water-ways, but I 

 had witnessed the ' Samarang' go even further. That was 

 enough for me ; I was satisfied all was safe ! At that 

 instant my thoughts reverted to our absent sledge, as 

 well as to the fate of poor Bellot. In such a gale, similar 

 in every feature, did that gallant Frenchman meet his 

 fate! 



But to our position. Notwithstanding she rode to her 

 cable, she did not "right" satisfactorily, but remained 

 with a most inconvenient heel to starboard. I cannot 

 say that I expected her total loss ; she was securely bat- 

 tened down, and, doubtless, would have "righted," had 

 she been relieved of her masts, etc.; but the lurch she 



