390 RIGGING SET UP. [CHAP.VI. 



of an inch forward, and risen half an inch abaft. 

 The crew were early at their work, and felt the 

 comfort of the extra allowance. The ice main- 

 tained a similar thickness, and by noon another 

 twenty-two feet were gained, which made alto- 

 gether one hundred feet since the commencement; 

 in fact, they were now approaching the stern, and 

 at intervals they heard loud cracks close to 

 them, as if something were yielding underneath. 

 Considering that the event might take place at 

 a moment when least looked for, to the great 

 danger of the people, I ordered ladders and ropes, 

 to be hung from the stern within their reach, 

 to which, if requisite, they might cling. They 

 however seemed quite indifferent about the 

 matter, and sang and worked as merrily as if 

 they had been on terra flrma. Easterly winds 

 still prevailed, as did the gloomy sky ; but though 

 the land was often obscured, yet once the Labra- 

 dor coast appeared bearing from S. W. to S. W. 

 by W., and Salisbury Island from N. W. by W. 

 to N. W. by N., making us much about the same 

 spot where we had been a month ago. The ice 

 was impenetrably close. At midnight there was 

 .what seemed to be a dark water sky to the south- 

 ward, along the coast, or it might be only the 

 clouds, which were frequently seen hanging over 

 the skirts of the land. 



On July i)th the fineness of the day tempted 

 us to set up the rigging, and forego what we never 



