ROSS'S SECOND VOYAGE. 209 



16th had come to the furthest point reached in the pre- 

 ceding year, a spot which excited some painful recollec- 

 tions. However, though all passage to the east was 

 closed, there was still an open lane by which they could 

 proceed northwards. In the evening of that day they 

 were at the north-eastern point of America, and beheld 

 the sea in that direction quite navigable, though encum- 

 bered with ice. At three in the morning of the 17th 

 they were in motion, making their way through the 

 loose pieces, till, favored by a southern breeze, they 

 turned the point of the solid mass which obstructed the 

 inlet, and saw the wide expanse of Barrow's Strait open 

 before them. Wafted on as if by magic, they reached 

 the opposite shore, which they sailed along to within 

 twelve miles of Cape York, having made in this day 

 seventy-two miles. In the two following they passed 

 Admiralty Inlet, and came within six or seven miles of 

 that called Navy Board ; after which they were detained 

 four days by contrary winds, and obliged to reduce 

 their allowance of provisions. On the 25th, however, 

 they could again use their oars, and reached the east- 

 ern side of Navy Board Inlet, where they found a good 

 harbor for the night. 



At four in the morning of the 26th they were roused 

 from sleep by the look-out man announcing " a sail/' 

 which, viewed through a glass, proved evidently to be 

 a ship. All were presently in motion, and their hopes 

 and fears were variously expressed. But they were 

 detained by calms and light shifting airs ; and, a breeze 

 springing up, the vessel made sail with a rapidity which 

 left them hopelessly behind. About ten, however, they 

 des 3ried another, which seemed to be lying to ; but she, 

 also, soon bore up under all sail, and appeared to be 

 fast leaving them. Happily, a calm succeeded ; and, 



by hard rowing, they approached so near that their sig- 

 H 



