CHAP. V.] SET OF ICE. 247 



hours, by opening out a few inches alongside, it 

 allowed the ship to come more upright, still, 

 however, with a considerable inclination. Some 

 narrow lanes of water appeared nearer the ice, 

 which was at present immovably fixed to the low 

 land, forming the western entrance to the deep bay 

 or inlet, and along the edge of which we seemed 

 to be setting to and fro. The frost smoke from 

 these lanes in some measure obscured the land 

 which however we seemed to have approached ; 

 thus making it apparent that the flood tide came 

 from the north-west, and without any aid from 

 wind (of which for two days there had been very 

 little), continued to drive us bodily along towards 

 Hudson's Straits. Up to ll h a. m. the seaward 

 ice which encircled us passed rapidly to the south- 

 east, along the outer edge of that wedged against 

 the land at the entrance of the opening : at that 

 hour it stopped, and in the concussion produced 

 by the reaction, several pieces ground along and 

 underneath the bottom of the ship, but without 

 producing any corresponding action on the sur- 

 face. At noon all was once more silent. The 

 crew, for employment, were ordered to make 

 each a small sledge of the staves of casks, and 

 to sling the tin cases of pemmican. Our in- 

 valids were generally better, except two on the 

 sick list, who, probably from despondency, did 

 not improve as rapidly as their companions. 



r 4 



