496 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. XIII. 







lower parts of the deck :" all the while the Terror was 

 tossing about on afield of ice, twelve or fourteen miles 

 to the eastward of that detestable Cape Comfort. 

 Under such comforts the want of cheerfulness among 

 such persons is not to be wondered at, but it may 

 also have arisen, as Back suggests, from their never 

 having been subject to the salutary influence of 

 naval discipline : " it was in vain," he says, " we 

 endeavoured to lead them into the wholesome habit 

 of amusing themselves with games or dancing, to 

 cheer their spirits, and while away the long hours 

 of our winter evenings." 



On the 11th of January they found the Terror 

 had been carried upon her ice-waggon to within 

 three miles of Ridge Cliff, which would appear to 

 be at the entrance of Stanley Harbour, about thirty 

 miles to the southward of the interminable Cape 

 Comfort. In February the cold was intense ; the 

 thermometer descended to — 54° ; several were on 

 the sick-list, and Mr. Donaldson, a gunner, who 

 had served with Parry, died. Well might Back 

 begin to feel uncomfortable : " the eight months 

 since we left England seemed longer than any three 

 years of my former not unadventurous life ; days 

 were weeks, weeks months, months almost years." 

 But the worst was yet to come, and but just com- 

 mencing — an opening in the floe was observed 

 within forty paces of the ship, " a most unpromising 

 sight, followed by innumerable cracks," which left 



