HOPES AGAIN DISAPPOINTED, 111 



interruption, that a whale line was made fast to 

 the upper part of the fore-mast, and the men 

 actually tracked the ship along. 



We had now been precisely a month beset, 

 without the option of moving in any direction but 

 where the openings occurred, or where the whole 

 body of the ice drifted; and this at a period admit- 

 ted to be the most favourable for navigating these 

 seas. With every thing flattering to decoy us on 

 within twenty miles of Baffin Island, we there 

 found ourselves suddenly stopped; and saw the 

 ice close behind us in an unbroken line, cutting 

 off all retreat. It will easily therefore be con- 

 ceived, that the phenomenon which permitted 

 even this trifling advance was hailed with exult- 

 ation ; and though we were soon arrested, 

 yet three or four cracks between the floes 

 and packed body ahead, intimated that some- 

 thing favourable might be expected from the 

 returning tide. The weather, too, continued 

 mild, and a light air blew from the west. Still, 

 though there were occasional fluctuations in the 

 ice during the night, Sept. 24th came without 

 the consummation so eagerly anticipated. By some 

 unaccountable caprice, scarcely had the narrow 

 opening begun to enlarge when the ice suddenly 

 stopped, and then with a reaction truly alarm- 

 ing, pressed against the ship, so as to heave her 

 over considerably on one side to the no small risk 

 of the part nipped, which creaked and com- 



