CHAP. VI.] WELL SOUNDED. 395 



inches aft, having a heel of about two streaks over 

 to port. The first thing was to sound the well, 

 the water in which increased four inches in a 

 quarter of an hour; and, supposing that this might 

 be attributable to the change of the ship's plane, 

 whereby the water which had been lodged astern 

 was allowed to come forward, it produced for the 

 moment but little uneasiness. I soon however 

 perceived that not only the offensive odour of the 

 well water was gone, but that what there was, was 

 equally salt with the sea water alongside. 



As the ship rested almost entirely on the star- 

 board bilge, we naturally hoped that the first 

 twirl of tide would set her fully at liberty ; and 

 in this hope the top-gallant masts were ridded, 

 the yards crossed, and every thing put in readi- 

 ness to make sail. At noon the ice was still 

 close except immediately round the ship. Mean- 

 time an increased quantity of water found its way 

 into the well, which in four hours, notwithstan- 

 ding the constant use of one pump, had filled to 

 the depth of nineteen inches. Subsequently, we 

 gained two inches on the leak, which thence- 

 forth kept pretty steady at ten or twelve inches. 

 Below this, without the use of other means, it 

 could not be reduced. The ponderous bodies 

 that had hemmed us round for nine months and 

 more, the objects of our terror, and yet perhaps 

 the appointed means of safety, were now seen 



