168 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANXETTE. 



it, I almost momentarily expected to see the ice split in 

 all directions around the ship, and the ship herself be 

 carried along with the tumbling heap. Nothing of the 

 kind happened, however, thank God, and about four p. m. 

 the motion ceased. The ship had not moved an inch. 

 Five sledges stood packed on the poop, with forty days' 

 provisions for men and dogs, but these might have 

 availed but little. In fact, I doubt if they would have 

 stood the racket of being dragged over rough ice with 

 their weights. Suspending, therefore, other work, we 

 commenced the construction of two strong^ sleds to 

 carry our dingys. 



Our floe must have moved ; for to-day we are in 

 twenty-three fathoms. The openings in the ice ex- 

 posed so much water to the action of the cold air that 

 we have had all day a thick fog, highest temperature 

 plus 3°, lowest minus 10°. 



November 8th, Saturday. — A quiet day and a relief 

 to the anxiety of yesterday. Still I cannot help feel- 

 ing more or less uneasj^ The line of broken ice is so 

 near us that I fear we may have some trouble at the 

 next gale of wind. All the commotion of yesterday 

 occurred with calms or light airs. Had it been at regu- 

 lar periods, it might have been considered due to tidal 

 action ; but as it occurred only once in the twentj^-four 

 hours that idea must be abandoned. Some resisting 

 field of ice has given way, and the rush was the result. 

 If we consider that rush accelerated by a gale of wind, 

 it is not difficult to realize the peril of a ship carried 

 along by it. Drifting with it might not be so bad, but 

 the hanging of the shijD on an impediment while this 

 surging and grinding mass was pushing against and per- 

 haps over her would at least not improve the situation. 

 My fear is, therefore, that if we have a gale of wind be- 



