296 RE-STOWING. [CHAP.V. 



we were farther away from the land — a change 

 which the proximity of the two icy boundaries 

 yesterday had taught us to appreciate. There 

 was still a mist hanging over objects in that 

 direction ; but a dark gleam of water was 

 visible, forming a part of the lane now much 

 encumbered with old pieces of ice, that must 

 have been detached from larger masses to the 

 eastward. To seaward was still one unbroken 

 body. In the forenoon the sky became clear, the 

 wind having shifted to S. E. A few w T ell-defined 

 clouds were remarked upon as a sight which had 

 not for a long time been observed. Our decks 

 were naturally much lumbered from the store 

 of provisions which I considered it still ne- 

 cessary to keep there ; but as the small snow 

 which constantly fell was found to injure them, 

 and particularly the bread, the whole was now 

 restowed, and covered well over w r ith sails. 

 As night drew on the wind again got round to 

 the N. E., and at intervals came in heavy squalls 

 which drove the ship fast towards the land. 



March 29th. The weather became more 

 threatening ; and in a short time a cracking 

 noise was heard to windward, accompanied by a 

 grinding sound among the bay ice just within us. 

 At 5 h a. m. the narrow lane about forty paces 

 astern suddenly opened from fifteen to twenty 

 feet, again partially closing a few hours after. 



