1 1^2 CUTTING AWAY ICE WITH AXES. 



plained bitterly ; it was some hours before she 

 righted again. 



It was now an object so to place the ship, 

 that the excessive pressure, aided as it was by the 

 spring tide, should be received equally on 

 every part of her ; and as this could not be 

 effected without the ice saws, they were shortly 

 made ready, and having been fixed to large tri- 

 angles formed of three high poles, were worked 

 by means of a pulley. With one saw and some 

 axes we were enabled to cut away a sharp piece 

 which had already caused much annoyance, and 

 were about removing it, when the ship which 

 had been warped there, was suddenly set by the 

 ice against it, and in a short time crushed up 

 the whole mass. From that moment the pres- 

 sure was very great, and after midnight of Sept. 

 25th, the timbers were strained so severely 

 that there was a general creaking. Happily it 

 did not last, for the crack again opened out and 

 permitted our hauling a few yards ahead, and 

 thereby to escape being caught by an extensive 

 floe which, after sinking all smaller pieces, 

 had forced its way to us. The rudder had 

 borne an amazing force with scarcely any injury, 

 but as there was no longer any reason for expos- 

 ing it, it was unhung and slung under the stern. 

 We were nearly half way between Capes Comfort 

 and Bylot, were in sight of each side of Frozen 

 Strait, could clearly distinguish Cape Welsford 



