1779» THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 235 



sity of forcing a passage to the southward, which at 

 half past seven, we accomplished, but not without 

 subjecting the ship to some very severe shocks. The 

 Discovery was less successful. For, at eleven, when, 

 they had nigh got clear out, she became so entangled 

 by several large pieces, that her way was stopped, 

 and immediately dropping bodily to leeward, she fell, 

 broadside foremost, on the edge of a considerable 

 body of ice; and having, at the same time, an open 

 sea to windward, the surf caused her to strike vio- 

 lently upon it. This mass at length either so far 

 broke, or moved, as to set them at liberty to make 

 another trial to escape ; but, unfortunately, before 

 the ship gathered way enough to be under command, 

 she again fell to leeward on another fragment ; and 

 the swell making it unsafe to lie to windward, and 

 finding no chance of getting clear, they pushed into 

 a small opening, furled their sails, and made fast with 

 ice-hooks. 



In this dangerous situation we saw them at noon, 

 about three miles from us, bearing north-west, a fresh 

 gale from the south-east driving more ice to the 

 north-west, and increasing the body that lay between 

 us. Our latitude, by account, was 69° 8', the longi- 

 tude 187°, and the depth of water twenty-eight 

 fathoms. To add to the gloomy apprehensions which 

 began to force themselves on us, at half past four in 

 the afternoon, the weather becoming thick and hazy, 

 we lost sight of the Discovery ; but, that we might 

 be in a situation to afford her every assistance in our 

 power, we kept standing on close by the edge of the 

 ice. At six, the wind happily coming round to the 

 north, gave us some hopes, that the ice might drift 

 away and release her ; and in that case, as it was un- 

 certain in what condition she might come out, we 

 kept firing a gun every half hour, in order to prevent 

 a separation. Our apprehensions for her safety did 

 not cease till nine, when we heard her guns in 

 answers to ours ; and soon after, being hailed by her, 



