226 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. VII. 



to expect that the other anchors would hold long. 

 In short, the prospect was now most perilous and 

 pitiable. 



" At 6 a.m. all further doubts on this particular point were 

 at an end ; for, having received two overwhelming seas, both 

 the other cables went at the same moment, and we were left 

 helpless, without anchors or any means of saving ourselves, 

 should the shore, as we had every reason to expect, be close 

 astern. And here again I had the happiness of witnessing 

 the same general tranquillity as was shown on the 1st of 

 September. There was no outcry that the cables were 

 gone ; but my friend Mr. Manico, with Mr. Carr, the 

 gunner, came aft as soon as they recovered their legs ; and, 

 in the lowest whisper, informed me that the cables had all 

 parted. The ship in trending to the wind lay quite down 

 on her broadside ; and as it then became evident that 

 nothing held her, and that she was quite helpless, each man 

 instinctively took his station, while the seamen at the leads, 

 having secured themselves as well as was in their power, re- 

 peated their soundings, on which our preservation depended, 

 with as much composure as if we had been entering a 

 friendly port. Here again that Almighty power which had 

 before so mercifully preserved us, granted us his protection." 

 —pp. 102, 103. 



They were still, however, in a very melancholy 

 condition, expecting every moment to strike, and not 

 having the least idea where they had anchored and 

 where they now were; every rope was encrusted 

 with a thick coating of ice, the decks so deeply 

 covered with frozen snow and freezing sea water as 

 to make it scarcely possible to stand ; and all hands 

 being wet and half frozen, without having had any 



