CHAP. V.] TUMULT ARRESTED. 313 



Providence mercifully averted the crisis, by sud- 

 denly, and at the moment of greatest peril, 

 arresting the tumult. In less time than it could 

 be spoken, there was the stillness of death, and 

 we were saved! The watch was called, the 

 crew dismissed ; and I trust that none that 

 night laid his head on his pillow without offering 

 up a devout thanksgiving for the mercy which 

 had been vouchsafed him. 



April 1 1th. About half an hour after midnight 

 the wind having veered more to the west, the ice 

 was observed to slacken out ; and this it continued 

 to do so rapidly, that at daylight the large wave 

 and other ramparts of ice on the larboard side had 

 considerably subsided, and ultimately they dis- 

 appeared, leaving only some straggling pieces to 

 mark the scene of so much terrific grandeur. 

 To seaward no alteration had taken place, and 

 we had leisure to contemplate the devastation 

 that a few short hours had brought home to the 

 very side of the ship. The cracks were wider apart, 

 and our territory greatly diminished ; we were, 

 however, further off shore, and at 5 h 50 ra a. m. 

 were driving quietly to the east towards the low 

 point. In our progress a deep bay or, possibly, inlet 

 was seen, for there might be a passage through 

 its south-eastern termination, though the land ap- 

 peared continuous from the crow's-nest, whence 

 ice was made out on the other or eastern side of 



