236 BACK'S VOYAGE IN THE TERROR. 



horizontal, and the bow was jammed downward on the 

 masses ahead. "Thus," says Back, "ended a month 

 of vexation, disappointment, and anxiety, to me per- 

 sonally more distressing and intolerable than the worst 

 pressure of the worst evils which had befallen me in 

 any other expedition." 



After a long series of such trying vicissitudes, a time 

 of repose followed. The long calm of winter seemed 

 at last to have set in. Back, remembering the example 

 of Parry, induced the officers to assist him in contriving 

 some amusement for the men. Theatricals were got up, 

 and the farce of Monsieur Tonson went off with hearty 

 laughter and abundant plaudits. An evening school 

 also was instituted, and kept vigorously going. But a 

 startling event was at hand. 



The floe, which had been at once cradle, wagon, and 

 bulwark, to the ship, now cracked and split to within 

 about forty paces of it, and gave fearful omen of being 

 ready to go to pieces. It had become a home to the 

 crew, and had been made snug with snow-walls, snow- 

 houses, galleries, and court-yard, which served well 

 some of the best purposes of a deck. It still held to- 

 gether, shattered and crazy, for three or four days, and 

 carried them within sight of Seahorse Point, the south- 

 eastern extremity of Southampton Island. Early on 

 the morning of the 18th of February, there occurred, in 

 rapid succession, first, a terrific crash on the eastern 

 edge of the floe ; next, a hoarse rushing sound across it ; 

 next, several severe shocks against the ship, and next, a 

 visible rending of the floe right through the centre. The 

 ship now began to strain and quiver ; and she then 

 heeled over to port, and relieved herself about six 

 inches from an embankment which had been built against 

 ner side. At this time the crashing, grinding, rushing 

 noise beneath the ship, and all over the floe, were appall- 



