OF THE POLAR SEA. 23 
out the water in buckets at different parts of the 
hold. A heavy gale came on, blowing from the 
land, as the night advanced; the sails were split, 
the ship was encompassed by heavy ice, and, in 
forcing through a closely-connected. stream, the. 
tow-rope broke, and obliged us to take a portion 
of the seamen from the pumps, and appoint them 
to the management of the ship. 
Fatigue, indeed, had caused us to relax in our 
exertions at the pumps during a part of the 
night of the 8th, and on the following morning 
upwards. of five feet water was found in the 
well. Renewed exertions. were now put forth 
by every person, and before eight A.M. the 
water was so much reduced as to enable the 
carpenters to. get at other defective places ; but 
the remedies they could apply were insufficient 
to repress the water from. rushing in, and our 
labours could but just keep the ship in the same 
State throughout the day, until six P.M.; when 
the strength of every one began to fail, the ex- 
pedient of thrusting in felt, as well as oakum, 
was resorted. to, and a plank nailed over all- 
After this operation a perceptible diminution in 
the water was made, and being encouraged: by 
the change, we put forth our utmost exertion in 
bailing and pumping; and before night, to our 
infinite joy, the leak was so overpowered that 
