70 PERILOUS SITUATION. 



ing the ship into a sort of basin, formed by two 

 projecting points of the nearest floe. Here we 

 were again set fast. A summer's day, with the 

 thermometer at 44° + in the sun, and a bright 

 and cloudless sky, made us deplore more than 

 ever our mortifying detention during weather 

 so advantageous for work along the coast with 

 our boats. But not the slightest improvement 

 took place in our condition ; though at long 

 intervals the mournful crashing of the young ice, 

 as yielding to the larger masses it was thrown 

 up in solid foam, gave token that all was in mo- 

 tion. There was no wind, and evidently but 

 little tide or current, for the bearings and dis- 

 tance from the land remained nearly as they 

 were yesterday ; still there was an occasional 

 stir, and the pressure against the ship was de- 

 cidedly increased. About midnight, though still 

 calm, this became more perceptible by additional 

 pieces of ice being squeezed against the bows 

 and between the larboard side and the floe to 

 which we were secured, producing thereby a 

 heavy strain on the hawser, and threatening to 

 force the stern against what had hitherto been 

 a security, a projecting point. Another strong 

 hawser was therefore carried out and fixed to an 

 ice-anchor ahead, and being hove tight by the 

 windlass, materially relieved the strain upon the 

 other. Preparations were, at the same time, 



