CHAP. VI. J SHIP STRUCK BY A PLOE. 4 L 25 



.The result was an increase of water in the well, 

 amounting now to a little more than five feet 

 per hour, and an apprehension that it would be 

 still further augmented on exposure to a rolling 

 sea. Several heavy remnants of floes hovered for 

 three or four hours of a rainy night alarmingly 

 near our rudder and quarter ; and, anxious as 

 we were to guard these tender and . important 

 points, it was not a little curious to observe the 

 eccentric movements of those huge masses ; 

 now pressing directly towards us, now turning 

 aside and athwart the previous course, as it were 

 reluctantly retreating ; then again, as if urged by 

 fresh vigour, turning slowly round, and gradu- 

 ally reapproaching ; until suddenly, under some 

 powerful but unseen influence, their whirling 

 ceased, and they started off with accelerated 

 speed in a straight undeviating line, immediately 

 against the wind, ploughing up or tossing aside 

 every impediment that crossed their way. Rain 

 fell all night, up to noon of August 2d, the 

 wind continuing north-east and the ice close, 

 whilst a gentle swell occasionally agitated the 

 ship. No land could be seen. At c 2 h 40 ra p. m. 

 a sudden commotion took place among the ice, 

 perhaps occasioned by the spring tide, which 

 drove a large floe against the ship, upon the star- 

 board quarter, with a crash that brought most 

 of the officers on deck* Fortunately, the blow 



