XARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 445 



The effect was then considerable ; assisted by a light 

 air of wind, the ship attained the velocity of about 

 three miles per hour, while the northern floe liad a 

 velocity of about two. As the channel between the 

 two floes was constantly as broad as our distance 

 from the narrowest part, we were tempted to ad- 

 vance. But when we came within a hundred yards, 

 our progress became sensibly lessened by a light air 

 of wind, that at this moment unfortunately sprung 

 up a-head ; as such, I began to look out for a place 

 of refuge, and succeeded in discovering a deep in- 

 dentation in the southern floe, which appeared cal- 

 culated to afford a secure retreat. Conceiving, how- 

 ever, that we should be still more secure were we to 

 return, we attempted to stop the ship before she en- 

 tered between the two first points ; but owing to a 

 mistake in taking out a rope that was found to be en- 

 tangled, by which a considerable loss of time was sus- 

 tained, theshipadvancedso farthat she had passed the 

 points, and could not be hauled back without a risk 

 of being arrested by the ice at the projection, and 

 crushed to pieces. I, therefore, ordered the boats 

 again to tow forward ; and they had already got the 

 ship into the safety of the indentation, within ten 

 yards, when a small piece of ice coming athwart her 

 bow, stopped her progress, and she was in a minute 

 afterwards subjected to a considerable squeeze, 

 ^leanwhile, two eastern projections of the approach- 

 ing floes had met ; and one of tlicse, which was cx- 



2 



