502 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. XIII. 



getting nearer and nearer to the land-ice : large rents were 

 showing themselves in the ice, at right angles on each side 

 of the fore -chains; the ship, unable to right herself, began 

 to complain, and the scene every moment became more dark 

 and threatening. Extra purchases were fixed to the pumps ; 

 the hands were turned up ; the sick provided for ; and 

 though nothing effectual could be done for our preservation, 

 the attention of the men was occupied in hoisting two of the 

 boats higher up. . . . What the result of that night might 

 have been, it is impossible to say, and painful to contemplate, 

 had not an overruling Providence mercifully averted the 

 crisis, by suddenly, and at the moment of the greatest peril, 

 arresting the tumult." — p. 313. 



On the 21st they were still off Seahorse Point, but 

 on the 23rd found themselves twelve or fifteen miles 

 from it, the ship's head pointing towards Mill Islands. 

 In this new posture of affairs, Back says, " it was 

 deemed expedient immediately to refit, as far as 

 could be conveniently done." The sails, which had 

 for so many months been useless, were put in order, 

 the ship was scoured, and the provisions and other 

 articles were brought on deck ready in case of need 

 to be restowed. On this day another death oc- 

 curred, after a lingering disease, in the person of 

 Alexander Young, a marine. 



From the 10th of May till the 7th of June the ice 

 remained compact, and not a drop of water to be 

 seen. On the 9th, mention is still made of " our 

 pack," unaltered in area, though slightly diminished 

 in thickness, and on it " the afterpart of the ship lay 

 immoveably wedged." On the 11th of June the ice 



