122 SHIP RIGHTS. 



ened bobstay among heavy ice, or it might 

 have been occasioned by running on and lifting 

 against elevated masses. During the after- 

 noon of the 9th the wind freshened from the 

 westward, and early the following morning, much 

 to the astonishment of those who first descried it, 

 a long lane of water was formed in shore at the 

 distance of not more than a mile from the ship. 

 The body in which we were beset had, in fact, 

 separated from and moved away from that nearer 

 the land, leaving a perfectly clear channel to Cape 

 Bylot within fifteen miles from Duke of York's 

 Bay, which I was most anxious to reach in order 

 to place the ship in safety for the winter. The 

 returning ebb closed the lane in a great part, 

 though not entirely, and we continued as firmly 

 beset as ever, yet not without hope that the next 

 three or four days might materially improve our 

 prospects. The same action and reaction suc- 

 cessively occurred at each change of tide ; but 

 on the 11th, the weather being exceedingly mode- 

 rate, various transverse cracks and small openings 

 began to appear over the greater part of the ice, 

 and at length actually reached the ship. Towards 

 evening, several pieces of ice slowly moved from 

 under her bilge, and at ll h 30 ra p. m., the com- 

 motion having considerably increased, she first 

 forged a little ahead, and immediately righted. 

 Had it been light enough to send the men on the 



