64 SHIP IMBEDDED IN ICE. 



ferent from all others recorded of the climate, I 

 felt assured that the customary westerly winds 

 would sooner or later prevail ; and that, under 

 their influence, the body of ice which now inter- 

 rupted our progress would open a passage for 

 us. None, however, were insensible to the 

 annoyance of our position, thus hampered, and 

 as it were fixed in a bed of ice ; and a burst of joy 

 followed the announcement, from the * crow's- 

 nest,' of an appearance of water towards the 

 N. N. E. By warping and hauling till we reached 

 the ' lead,' and then carrying studding-sails till we 

 had exhausted it, some little way was gained ; 

 and at noon, though the latitude was much 

 the same as yesterday, the longitude differed. 

 Through the remainder of the day we went on 

 struggling with the ice, tacking continually to 

 weather or avoid the floes, and praying for a 

 breeze, but praying in vain. A few whales and 

 narwals alone relieved the monotony of the 

 scene ; and night found us again attached to a 

 floe, and lying motionless and dark on the bright 

 bosom of the icy wilderness. 



About 2 h a. m., August 22d, a light air came 

 from the north-west, of which immediate ad- 

 vantage was taken ; and leaving the floe, we got, 

 by the aid of warping, into a ' lead.' Studding- 

 sails were soon hoisted, and the ship was forced 

 through the close ice for a time, and thus soon 



