28 RIDING AMONGST LOOSE ICE. [October. 



took was so deep as to cause all Lands to rush to wind- 

 ward, and some one was indiscreet enough to open the 

 weather curtains. I was soon there, and had them 

 secured. 



All were soon reassured, and went to work cheerfully, 

 completing various duties ; it continued to blow hard, 

 with heavy snow-drift, and our anxieties were freshened 

 occasionally by huge pieces of drifting ice getting across 

 our cable, grinding our sides, and threatening my friend 

 Glaisher's nursery of thermometers, still suspended un- 

 der the stern, and causing me infinite anxiety. 



For thirty-six tedious hours were we retained in this 

 state of suspense, with the additional uncomfortable re- 

 flection that any sudden shift of wind, bringing the main 

 body of western ice down upon us before we could get 

 our anchor, would send us high up on shore. The 

 windlass levers, having bent, were inadequate to perform 

 their duty properly, and we had none spare ! 



