116 THENORTH POLE 



babies, the dogs, the boxes, and even ourselves, tum- 

 bling about the decks. 



When the tide rose, efforts were made to dislodge 

 the ship from her stranded position. From the port 

 side of the bow a line was made fast to a stationary 

 floe-berg, and the captain called for full steam, first 

 ahead, then astern. For some time there was no per- 

 ceptible movement of the ship. Finally, the pull on 

 the port bow from the cable, with full speed astern, 

 had the desired effect and the vessel slid off and floated 

 free; but the ice was so heavily packed behind us that 

 we could not move her away. It was far from a pleas- 

 ant spot. 



