CHEERLESS PROSPECT. 67 



and, despite of increasing obstacles, we continued 

 to gain a few yards. Warping was next resorted 

 to ; but at last all failed us, and at 3 h p. m. we 

 were compelled to give up the attempt as utterly 

 hopeless. Cheerless, indeed, was the prospect ; 

 for, excepting within a few feet of the ship, 

 where the black streaks of water looked like 

 inky lines on a fair sheet of paper, far as the 

 eye could reach all was ice. Soundings were 

 obtained in one hundred and two fathoms, and 

 showed a muddy bottom. The tide had little or no 

 effect here ; but about 7 h **• M «> a large floe having 

 exhibited symptoms of moving round so as to 

 nip us, the sails were again hoisted, and the 

 ship forced ahead about her own length, when 

 immediately the small opening we had quitted was 

 closed up. It was evident that we were equally 

 secure under canvass as without ; and as it was 

 possible that so long as the ship could be kept 

 the right way something might be gained, we 

 kept the sails full, and at long intervals she 

 moved some twenty or thirty yards, and again 

 stopped. As the breeze grew fainter more sail 

 was set and still forced her onwards ; but at day- 

 break of the 24th, no change taking place, we 

 were once more set fast, and after two hours' 

 warping, and wedging the ship next to a large 

 floe, which had been seen ahead, we found our- 

 selves instantly hemmed in by the surrounding 



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