BLOCKING Ur OF THE nANSA. Ill 



in tubs in order to keep dry. To make a way for it to 

 escape, we had to make holes in the bulwarks ; though 

 without any particular result, as from the intense cold 

 the water came out quite in a half-frozen state. At the 

 same time the ice settled so over the cabin skylight, that 

 the water penetrated through the chinks. The night 

 allowed our exhausted men some hours of refreshing sleep ; 

 then all gladly drained a cup of hot coffee, and set to work 

 again. But the catastrophe was near! At eight a.m. 

 the men who were busy in the fore-peak getting out 

 fire-wood came with anxious faces, with the news that the 

 wood was already floating below. When the captain had 

 ascertained the truth of this intelligence, he ordered the 

 pumping to cease. It was evident that the ship was sink- 

 ing, and that it must be abandoned. 



The first thing to be done was to bring all necessary 

 and useful things from the 'tween decks on to the ice; 

 bedding, clothing, more provisions, and coal. Silently 

 were all the heavy chests and barrels pushed over the 

 hatchway. First comes the weiglity iron galley, then 

 the two stoves are happily hoisted over ; their possession 

 ensures us the enjoyment of warm food, the heatino- of 

 our coal-house, and other matters indispensable for a 

 wintering on the floe. At three o'clock, the water in the 

 cabin had reached the table, and all movable articles were 

 floating. The fear that we should not have enough fuel 

 made us grasp at every loose piece of wood and throw^ it 

 on to the ice. The sinking of the vessel was now almost 

 imperceptible, it must have found support on a tongue of 

 ice or some promontory of our field. There was still a 

 small medicine chest, and a few other things, which, in 

 our future position, would be great treasures, — such as 



