BLOCKING UP OF THE HANSA. 107 



that we tliouglit it necessary for its safety to bring it 

 alongside the ship. Towards evening the weather cleared 

 again ; but our fear that this day was only a forerunner 

 of worse proved itself on the following day too well 

 grounded. We were, however, busy with preparations 

 for either case, viz., the wintering in the coal-house, 

 supposing the ship should be lost, or remaining on 

 board the ship itself. The store in the house was aug- 

 mented by a barrel of bread and fuel (particularly wood) ; 

 our fur clothing was rolled together and taken on deck 

 from the winter lodging, where it had previously lain 

 with other articles. This was soon to be used after 

 fitting up our still missing berths. On moving the 

 provisions, numbers of rats were found which had not 

 yet deserted the ship. We little thought how much our 

 preservation depended upon the fact that the following 

 day the provisions had not yet been moved to their 

 destination, the summer lodging, which had again to 

 be emptied. By the evening the pressure had ceased ; 

 the air was quiet, but not clear; around the full moon, 

 which cast a troubled uncertain light upon the fields and 

 icebergs, a halo had formed ; and in the cabin, as well as 

 in the lodging, we sought to divert ourselves by playing 

 at cards. 



The morning of the 19th dawned, foretelling mischief 

 with a N.N.W. storm of snow^ and ice pressure. The 

 air was gloomy and thick, and the coast, which was a 

 little more than four miles distant, not to be seen. 

 The first heavy pressure followed at ten a.m., though not 



* Ou Sabine Islaud, at tliis time, there was fair weather; the storm was 

 therefore more of a local nature, whilst generally the Northern storm& 

 rage the whole length of the coast. 



