ELISHA KENT KANE. 61 



"September 22d was an uncomfortable day. The 

 wind was from !N".E. with snow. From an early 

 hour in the morning, the floes began to be pressed 

 together with so much force that their edge was 

 thrown up in immense ridges of rugged hummocks. 

 The Advance was heavily nipped between two floes, 

 and the ice was piled up so high above the rail on 

 the starboard side as to threaten to come on board 

 and sink us with its weight. All hands were oc- 

 cupied in keeping it out. The pressure and com- 

 motion did not cease till near midnight, when we 

 were very glad to have a respite from our labors 

 and fears. The next day we were threatened with 

 a similar scene, but it fortunately ceased in a short 

 time. For the remainder of September, and until 

 the 4th of October, the vessels drifted but little. 

 The winds were very light, the thermometer fell to 

 minus 12, and ice formed over the pools in sight 

 sufficiently strong to travel upon. We were now 

 strongly impressed with the belief that the ice had 

 become fixed for the winter, and that we should be 

 able to send out travelling parties from the advanced 

 position for the examination of the lands to the 

 northward. Stimulated by this fair prospect, another 

 attempt was made to reach the shore in order to 

 establish a depot of provisions at or near Cape 

 Manning, which would materially facilitate the pro- 



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