116 LIBERATION OF THE VESSELS. 



tain Buchan thought it expedient to endeavour 

 to regain the open sea as quickly as possible, 

 in order to renew the attempt in another direc- 

 tion. But from this we were now about thirty 

 miles distant, without any opening presenting it- 

 self which would aid the ships in effecting their 

 release. We, however, loosed from the floe of 

 ice which had so materially befriended us during 

 heavy pressures, and commenced warping the 

 ships in the desired direction ; but the difficulty 

 of moving them was such, that, after five hours' 

 hard labour, we had succeeded in gaining only 

 one mile towards our release. 



For nine successive days from this period the 

 crews were occupied day and night in endeavour- 

 ing to extricate the ships ; and at the expiration 

 of that time we were gratified by the discovery 

 of the open sea from the mast-head. As we 

 neared the margin the changes in the state of the 

 ice became greater, so that we were at one time 

 sailing with a press of canvas, and the next 

 sustaining heavy squeezes between fields of ice ; 

 at length a few " streams " only intervened be- 

 tween the ships and the open water, and having 

 a fair wind we forced through them, striking 

 some of the pieces so forcibly that on two oc- 

 casions the brig had stern-way. Thus by six 

 o'clock in the evening we had the satisfaction 



