278 IMMINENT PERIL. [CHAP.V. 



or carried away ; and simultaneously, the outer 

 stern post from the ten feet mark was split down to 

 an unknown extent, and projected to the larboard 

 side upwards of three feet. The ship was thrown 

 up by the stern to the seven and a half teet mark ; 

 and that damage had been done was soon placed 

 beyond doubt by the increase of leakage, which 

 now amounted to three feet per hour. Extra 

 pumps were worked, and while some of the car- 

 penters were fixing diagonal shores forward, 

 others were examining the orlops and other parts. 

 It was reported to me by the first Lieutenant, 

 Master and carpenter, that nothing could be 

 detected inside, though apprehensions were en- 

 tertained by the two former, that some serious 

 injury had been inflicted. In spite of the com- 

 motion, the different pieces of our floe still re- 

 mained firm ; but being unable to foresee what 

 might take place in the night, I ordered the two 

 cutters and two whale boats to be lowered down, 

 and hauled with their stores to places considered 

 more secure ; this was accordingly done, though 

 not under two hours and a half, even with the 

 advantage of daylight. The ship was still setting 

 fast along shore and much too close to the fixed 

 ice ; but it was not till past8 h p. m. that any sus- 

 picious movement was noticed near us: then, 

 however, a continually increasing rush was heard, 

 which at 10 b 45 m r. m. came on with a heavy 



