218 MOOR TO ICE-HUMMOCK. 



possessing so good shelter, for the sea was covered 

 with drifting ice, mostly heavy, and having some 

 dangerous hummocks amongst it : and the small berg 

 to which we were secured, had to withstand continual 

 pressure and heavy shocks from the wind and current- 

 driven masses. 



The " Nancy's " position was less enviable than 

 ours ; she was anchored in the full force of the stream, 

 and we more than once feared for her safety, par- 

 ticularly on one occasion, when a small field of ice 

 getting athwart her hawse, threatened to break her 

 from her anchors. Eventually she was warped up to 

 the same shelter as ourselves, and then lay snug 

 enough. From the condition and appearance of the 

 ice, Mr. Pullen came to the conclusion that it would 

 probably be necessary to proceed with the smaller 

 boats only ; these were, therefore, loaded with seventy 

 days provisions for fourteen persons, in readiness for a 

 favourable opportunity. Our friendly shelter proved 

 treacherous at last ; perhaps we taxed its powers too 

 far by the addition of the " Nancy : " it broke fairly 

 in halves, one part remaining aground, the other 

 floating off with us. We had, therefore, to get in 

 shore as quickly as possible, where such another small 

 berg afforded protection, and we remained here until the 

 evening, when the weather began to moderate, and the 



