98 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. August 



bowsprit was projecting beyond the side of one of the 

 icebergs, the closing in of the outer ice ceased. Shortly 

 afterwards it began to ease off, and at half-past twelve 

 the water-pool had grown so large that I gave the order 

 to raise steam and ship the rudders and screws — heartily 

 glad of a chance to escape from our exposed situation. 

 The ice continuing to open to the westward, the ships 

 were moved about a mile in that direction and seemed 

 in a more protected position inshore of three very 

 large grounded icebergs, where, although we had lost 

 ground, we were equally ready to start as soon as an 

 opportunity occurred to pass Cape Frazer. 



In endeavouring to connect the 'Alert's' screw 

 some of the ice collected in the screw-well prevented 

 its being lowered to the right depth ; consequently 

 the ' Discovery,' whose screw gave less trouble, towed 

 us to our new position. 



After the ships were secured, a party of officers 

 landed, keeping within sight of a recall. The young 

 ice in all the protected positions had increased in 

 thickness so much that we had great difficulty in 

 forcing a passage through it for the boat. 



I ascended 2,000 feet up the side of Mount Joy, 

 and, the atmosphere being clear, obtained a fine 

 view of the heavy line of icebergs lying apparently 

 aground in Peabody Bay fronting the Humboldt Glacier. 

 In their neighbourhood there were many w r ater-pools. 



The summit of the ice-cap on Washington Land, 

 dividing the Humboldt and Petermann Glaciers, eighty 

 miles distant, and estimated as being 6,000 feet 

 high, was conspicuous, presenting a decided peak with 

 the sides sloping down at an incline of not more than 

 two or three degrees. 



