1853.] ALARMING 11UPTURE OF ICE. 23 



does not run foul of the ship." Little did I dream of 

 the immediate prospect of any such danger ; but many 

 similar random observations have been treasured up, and 

 if burning for sorcery be still a legal sentence, I may be- 

 come a victim ! Hardly had I reconciled myself to my 

 bed, when the officer reported, " the ice has broken off 

 within a few yards of the bow, and is going off rapidly." 

 I was at that moment thinking of our dangerous state, 

 with the housing over and not secured, boats stowed, 

 and too many provisions on deck, choking access to the 

 hawseholes, no cables bent, and every chance of a cap- 

 size. I certainly was in no mood to turn out and re- 

 dress myself again on such a night, and go through all 

 the necessary preparations for safety : however, not a 

 moment was to be lost. I was soon on deck, but not 

 without difficulty and much tardiness could I get the 

 hands up to bend cables. 



Tew could credit the reality of our predicament ! For 

 four hours, anxious hours, were they engaged clearing 

 the provisions away from the bows, and securing them 

 abaft. At two the cables were bent, the wind had 

 shifted to south-south-east, and blew in hard squalls off 

 the land ; we were sealed in ice about a foot and more in 

 thickness, and moreover were secured by hawsers to the 

 grounded ice within shore ; considering her safe for the 

 present, I allowed the men to rest by watches, until day- 

 light, when provisions and every available weight were 

 struck below, to give her stability ; the fore-part of the 

 housing was directed to be furled, and the ends drawn 

 down, to prevent the wind getting under. The topmasts 

 and lower yards were struck, and every precaution adopt- 



