Chap. III. CAPTAIN DAVID BUCHAN. 13 



day, however, so rapid had been the motion of the 

 ice during the night, that channels of water were 

 observed in every quarter, and the wind was favour- 

 able for proceeding along one of the open channels. 

 Captain Buchan lost not a moment in pushing his 

 ship into one of these openings, spreading every 

 sail his masts would bear, and was cheerfully fol- 

 lowed by his enterprising consort, to the great joy 

 of all on board. In the evening, however, the 

 channels began to close again, and the vessels were 

 soon beset and pressed close by the packed ice. 

 This was the end of their voyage northwards, and 

 the latitude gained was 80° 34' N. In vain they 

 laboured two days in dragging the vessels with 

 ropes and ice-anchors; for though they had left 

 the ice behind them, the current had carried them 

 back to the southward three miles; and it was 

 clear that all attempts to get one mile farther to 

 the northward would be vain. 



Captain Buchan being now satisfied that he had 

 given the ice a fair trial in the vicinity of Spitz- 

 bergen, resolved on standing over towards the coast 

 of Greenland. Having succeeded in getting the 

 ships to the edge of the pack, and sailing along it, 

 a violent gale of wind came on, so suddenly, that 

 they were at once reduced to storm-stay-sails. The 

 ice was setting fast upon them, and the Dorothea 

 being nearest to it, in order to escape immediate 

 shipwreck, it was deemed necessary to take refuge 

 amongst it. The Trent followed her example, and 



