CHAP. V.] FIXING SHORES. TJ3 



the high land, and were bringing the lower 

 point ahead clearer into view. The weather was 

 calm: the latitude 64° 8' 30" N., and longi- 

 tude 81° 5' W. 



After midnight, March 13th, there was a com- 

 motion heard to the northward, but it did not 

 extend to the ship, and again we had the luxury 

 of a quiet night. In the morning the ship was 

 found to have settled down a few inches, although, 

 with the exception of the tidal lane, there was no 

 open water in sight. One of the officers attended 

 by a couple of men attempted to reach the shore 

 to the eastward, but after a rather tedious walk 

 of two or three hours, he found so much inter- 

 ruption from narrow but open cracks leading 

 into the principal lane, that he halted. He had 

 seen the fresh tracks of an enormous bear. 

 About 8 h 30 m p. m. I heard a faint rush under 

 the stern, and from that time until midnight 

 there was considerable under pressure, which, 

 with occasional cracking, in that part especially, 

 raised the vessel up an inch or two more. Find- 

 ing that, notwithstanding the shores which had 

 been fixed in the bread-room and elsewhere, 

 there was still an immense strain fore and aft, we 

 determined on increasing the number, and for 

 that purpose immediately selected the best and 

 fittest spars on board. Thrown up and nipped 

 as we were under the resistless action of three 



