30 DENSE FOG. 



invariably take that direction in their outward 

 passage ; but having a commanding breeze and 

 a clearer space for sailing in, I did not hesitate, 

 under the circumstances, to take the south shore, 

 intending to follow it up until a change in the 

 wind or ice should render it advisable to edge 

 over to the usual track. At 8 h p. m. Resolution 

 Island was seen bearing by compass N. by E., 

 and we were beginning to flatter ourselves that 

 we had cleared the obstacles when, about 

 noon, a dense fog came on, and the ice in- 

 creased in quantity and dimension so much 

 as to excite some apprehension of the practi- 

 cability of passing it. At 2 h of the following 

 morning, the fog was so dense that the 'leads' or 

 openings could not be distinguished, and there 

 was no resource but to heave-to until the weather 

 should be clearer. In an hour's time it did 

 clear, and, though for a few minutes only, yet 

 the interval enabled us to catch a glimpse of 

 a passage between some large masses ahead. 

 The breeze was quite fair, and again setting the 

 small sails we ran on through very heavy ice, 

 sometimes temporarily arrested, and at others 

 boring through every impediment, not, however, 

 without receiving some violent concussions. 



By 7 h a. m. we had cleared this difficulty, but 

 soon came to a solid pack from twenty to twenty- 

 five feet high, which, of course, there was no 



