VOYAGE AND DEATH OF FRANKLIN 185 



and the continual freezing of the spray, as it broke over the vessel, combined 

 with the slippery state of the decks from the sleet that fell and the ice which 

 formed from the salt water, made all working of ropes and sails not only dis- 

 agreeable, but almost impracticable; so that I was not sorry when the wind 

 moderated. 



"By 4 a. m., of the 29th, it fell almost to a calm; but a heavy swell, the 

 thick fog and mist remaining, precluded our seeing any distance before us ; and 

 thus we imperceptibly drew too near the land-pack off the western shore, so 

 that, a little after Mr. Abernethy had come on deck, in the morning watch, I 

 was called up, as he said that the ship was drifting rapidly into the ice. Soon 

 on deck, I found that there was no question on that score; for even now the 

 loose pieces were all round us, and the swell was rapidly lifting the ship further 

 into the pack, whilst the roar of waters, surging on the vast floe-pieces, gave 

 us no very pleasant idea of what would be our fate if we were fairly entrapped 

 in this frightful chaos. The whale-boat was lowered, and a feeble effort made 

 to get her head off shore ; but still in we went, plunging and surging amongst 

 the crushing masses. 



"While I was anxiously watching the screw, upon which all our hopes were 

 now centered, I ordered the boiler, which had been under repair, and was partly 

 disconnected, to be rapidly secured, the fires to be lighted, and to get up the 

 steam ; in the meantime the tackles were got up for hoisting out our long-boat, 

 and every preparation was made for the worst. Each man on board knew he 

 was working for his life, and each toiled with his utmost might ; ice-anchors 

 were laid out, and hawsers got upon either bow and quarter, to keep the ship 

 from driving further in; but two hours must elapse before we could expect the 

 use of the engine. Eager were the inquiries when will the steam be up? and 

 wood and blubber were heaped in the furnace to get up the greatest heat we 

 could command. 



"At last the engineer reported all was ready ; and then, warping the ship's 

 head round to seaward, we screwed ahead with great caution; and at last 

 found ourselves, through God's providence and mercy, relieved from our diffi- 

 culties. It was a time of the deepest suspense to me ; the lives of my men and 

 the success of our expedition depended entirely on the safety of the screw ; and 

 thus I watched, with intense anxiety, the pieces of ice, as we drifted slowly 

 past them; and, passing the word to the engineer, 'East her,' 'Stop her,' till the 

 huge masses dropped into the wake, we succeeded, with much difficulty, in 

 saving the screw from any serious damage, though the edges of the fan were 

 burnished bright from abrasion against the ice." 



