92 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. August 



and on a iiumber of charges of powder being exploded 

 simultaneously a narrow passage was opened alongshore ; 

 but so quick was it in closing that after the ' Alert ' had 

 passed through safely, the ' Discovery ' scraped along the 

 bottom and for a few moments caused us much anxiety 

 owing to the dread that the ice would force her up 

 on the shore. As we advanced out of the bay the ice 

 was more open and we rounded Cape Louis Napoleon 

 in a navigable channel half a mile broad. 



The pack outside us consisted of very heavy floes 

 closely pressed together, with the edges of each field 

 well defined by a hedge-like line of pressed-up ice. 

 Many icebergs were in the pack : a few grounded here 

 and there alongshore near Cape Frazer now afforded 

 our only chance of shelter should the ice force its 

 way in towards the shore. 



Advancing quickly during the 16th with calm 

 weather, a neck of ice checked us for an hour at 1 a.m : 

 but on the ebb-tide gaining strength it opened a narrow 

 channel, and we proceeded, fighting our way along- 

 shore, until we had arrived, at 6.30 a.m., within a mile 

 of Cape Hayes. At that point we were completely 

 stopped in consequence of the flood-tide having carried 

 the pack in against the land. 



The ' Alert ' was then secured inside an iceberg 

 aground in thirty fathoms ; but as there was not room 

 for both ships, the 'Discovery' was forced to retreat 

 about a mile to the westward, where she succeeded in 

 sheltering herself to a slight extent behind and inshore 

 of three small bergs. 



Shortly afterwards the pack was forced in and we 

 were completely surrounded. With the boats turned 



