282 CREW IN COUNCIL. [cHAP.V. 



from the water's edge could not be ascertained, 

 though it was seen from the marks, that she was 

 heaved up seven feet abaft, whilst on deck the 

 ascent in walking forward was considerable. 

 The larboard side was found to be flattened and 

 indented in such a manner, as to make it proba- 

 ble some injury had been sustained about the 

 timbers near the line of flotation, in a direction 

 six or eight feet from the main channels forward, 

 and the quarter on the same side was bolstered 

 up as high as the tafrail by one of the largest 

 floe pieces, which pressed severely on one of 

 her weakest points. These appearances with 

 the facts of the damaged stern post and the 

 leaks, raised a doubt in my mind, how far the 

 ship might be trustworthy when the ice should 

 slacken off sufficiently to let her down to her 

 bearings ; and, though every precaution had been 

 adopted with respect to the provision, &c. on 

 deck, which was ready to be thrown on the ice 

 upon any sudden emergency, and other prepara- 

 tions had been made for the worst ; yet, when 

 instead of the ice remaining, as we had fer- 

 vently hoped, stationary, it began again to move 

 in a body to the eastward, and there was every 

 reason to expect during the night a similar visi- 

 tation to that of yesterday ; I thought it my 

 duty to collect the opinions of the officers, the 

 ice mate, and some of the leading men, who had 



