578 REPAIRING FOREFOOT. [CHAP.VI. 



and yellow of the older formation. Three or 

 four pieces had been lifted on the edge of our 

 floe, in consequence, of course, of some un- 

 seen pressure. It was thought, too, that the 

 ship was a little more upright. The land was 

 only dimly visible once or twice, for the day 

 was overcast and gloomy, and towards evening 

 settled into rain, which poured incessantly the 

 whole night. Soundings were found in eighty- 

 six fathoms. In consequence of the prevailing 

 easterly wind the ice continued remarkably close, 

 slackening, however, occasionally near the ship. 

 Nothing, indeed, could have been done even 

 had she been afloat, except to ascertain with 

 some precision, as I was very desirous of doing, 

 the extent of our damage. 



For this purpose, on June 26th, the crew 

 were again employed in removing the mounds, 

 while the carpenters were occupied about the 

 fore-foot, which, owing to the rising of the ice, 

 was now sufficiently exposed to allow of the 

 broken and damaged part being examined with 

 more exactness. It had been ground away by 

 the action of the ice, but the stem was un- 

 injured, and we began immediately to cut away 

 the ragged parts, with a view of substituting 

 more solid pieces in their stead, and finally 

 covering the whole with iron sheathing, taken 

 from the upper works of the bows, where ex- 



