AGAIN REPULSED. 105 



northern latitude, and even to penetrate be- 

 tween the ice and the coast of Spitsbergen 

 we had been repulsed, and obliged to retrace 

 our steps at the risk of staving the ships. The 

 summer was now well advanced ; and the effect 

 produced upon the ice by temperature and south- 

 westerly gales during the six weeks we had been 

 upon the coast was so trifling, that we began to 

 entertain serious doubts of being able to effect 

 anything of consequence on the western side 

 of Spitzbergen : the vessels, however, were kept 

 close to the pack. On approaching it the fol- 

 lowing day we were most agreeably surprised 

 to find that its aspect was now as promising 

 as on the preceding day it had been discou- 

 raging. So rapid had been the motion of the 

 ice during the night, that channels of water 

 were observed in every quarter, and the wind, 

 moreover, was favourable for entering those 

 which led in the direction we had been so lonsr 

 and anxiously endeavouring to proceed. 



Captain Buchan, whose patience had been 

 severely tried, and whose perseverance through- 

 out the most disheartening circumstances had 

 never once relaxed, but, on the contrary, had 

 been such as to inspire the fullest confidence 

 in the minds of every person under his com- 

 mand, lost not a moment in directing his vessel 



