NAUllATIVK OF A VOYAGE TO sriTZBEllGEN, 441 



could see no termination. The Mars of Whitby, 

 and another vessel, which closely followed us as we 

 penetrated the exterior of the ice, being in better 

 trim than the Esk, performed the evolution \vith 

 ease, and were in a few minutes out of sight. In 

 this dreadful situation, we lay beating against the 

 opposing ice, with terrible force, during eight suc- 

 cessive hours ; all which time, I was rocked, with 

 no agreeable feeling whatever to console me, at the 

 top-gallant-mast-head, directing the management of 

 the sails, to avoid the largest masses of ice, any one 

 of which would have perforated the side of the ship. 

 By the blessing of God, we succeeded to admira- 

 tion ; and, at 8 a. m. of the 2d of May, gained a 

 small opening, where we contrived to navigate the 

 ship, until the wind had somewhat subsided, and 

 the weather cleared, so that we had the opportunity 

 of forcing into a more commodious place. On exa- 

 mining the ship, we found our only apparent da- 

 mage to consist in the destruction of most of our 

 rudder works, a few slight bruises on the sides, and 

 a cut on the lower part of the stem of the ship. The 

 first damage would have been very serious,had not we 

 fortunately had a forge, with an excellent smith, on 

 board, whereby this important piece of machinery, 

 the rudder, was so secured, as to serve for every 

 common occasion. 



From this time, to the 20th of May, the fishery 

 was generally interrupted by the formation of new 



