94 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. IV. 



the first, to leave the Griper ; and, resolute in his pur- 

 pose, like a true British sailor, he remained seated 

 against the lee-side of the deck giving the necessary- 

 orders. 



The time was now more than arrived when the 

 ships, if possible, should be got into winter-quarters. 

 A harbour being pitched upon, and, on the 24th, 

 the Griper having got afloat and joined, the two 

 ships were secured in the proper position for com- 

 mencing operations. A sailor is never at a loss for 

 contriving and executing the means of overcoming 

 such difficulties, as few landsmen would venture to 

 encounter. On the present occasion they cut a 

 canal through the solid ice of the average thickness 

 of seven inches, and completed it in three days, the 

 whole length of which is stated to have been four 

 thousand and eighty-two yards, or two miles and 

 one- third nearly. In the afternoon of the 26th the 

 ships were hauled into their winter-quarters, with 

 three loud and hearty cheers from both ships' com- 

 panies. 



" Having now reached the station where, in all proba- 

 bility, we were destined to remain for at least eight or nine 

 months, during three of which we were not to see the face 

 of the sun, my attention was immediately and imperiously 

 called to various and important duties, many of them of a 

 singular nature, such as had for the first time devolved on 

 any officer in his Majesty's navy, and might, indeed, be 

 considered of rare occurrence in the whole history of navi- 

 gation. The security of the ships and the preservation of 

 the various stores were objects of immediate concern. A 

 regular system to be adopted for the maintenance of good 



