CHAP. V.J ALARMING SYMPTOMS. 223 



from Cape By lot) was in an excellent direction, 

 and allowing that the floe held together, and the 

 wind continued from the westward, it was not 

 unreasonable to suppose we should eventually be 

 taken somewhere among the cluster of islands at 

 the western extremity of Hudson's Straits. 



At noon, soundings on a green muddy bottom 

 were struck in eighty-six fathoms, and at the same 

 time the extremes of land extended from 

 N. W. \ N. to S. E. \ S. The latitude observed 

 was 64° 19' 30" N. and the longitude 81° 40' W. 



February 17th, for some part of the day, might 

 be said tobe calm ; and, as usual, the ice under what 

 might have been thought favourable circum- 

 stances, began to work with a noise by no 

 means welcome to our ears. The weather 

 was beautifully fine, and the wind quite light, 

 rather off the land ; but though there w r as nothing 

 in this respect which betokened a change, the 

 barometer was slowly falling, and it was remarked 

 that the grinding noise around the floe increased 

 more than usual. From l h to 3 h a. m. of the 

 following day (February 18th) the crashing of the 

 ice at the eastern edge of the floe was alarmingly 

 loud, and a few minutes afterwards I was awakened 

 by a hoarse rushing sound, quickly followed 

 by several severe shocks against the ship. The 

 officer of the watch hurrying down, reported that 

 the floe was certainly breaking up alongside, and 

 I hastened on deck, where the first Lieutenant 



