FURTHEE VOYAGE OF THE HAXSA. 89 



raft of deliverance. Now began the complete blockade 

 of our sliip in tlie ice. 



These occurrences and the changing state of mind on 

 board up to this time is plainly perceivable in the diaries. 

 Dr. Laube writes thus on the 13th of August : — " As 

 towards morning the wind was more favourable, we 

 heaved up the anchor and tried to get free. Vain effort ! 

 Although we towed from one floe to the other, with all 

 our strength, we were none the nearer. Scarcely were 

 we free from one floe than another immediately drifted 

 into its place. It seems bewitched. At noon, our faces 

 were very long, and we came to look upon our mission as 

 a failure. Open water seemed nearer again, but we were 

 faster than ever in the ice. In spite of all our trouble 

 the ship had not moved an inch from the floe, which is 

 in reality an immense ice-field on our lee, whilst on 

 our weather-side lay some large blocks. At last, after 

 fourteen hours' heavy labour, the ship got free. The 

 floes broke asunder, a passage opened, and we sailed into 

 it with a fair wind. The canal gets broader and broader. 

 Beyond, the sea seems almost free from ice. Eight and 

 left it receded to the horizon. It was as if we were 

 on a great lake ; some floes swimming about like islands. 

 As a heavy fog shut out the sun, we could not see where 

 the open water ended. We hovered between hope and 

 fear. Ten minutes before six o'clock we got under 

 weigh ; seven, eight, nine o'clock, no end to be seen ! 

 Ten o'clock, open water still before us. Unfortunately 

 the breeze dropped entirely. I asked Mr. Bade how 

 long we could still sail. He thought the whole night 

 through. We could not go to rest yet. Our hearts beat 

 from excitement, and however deep hope had sunk at 



