1 82 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



it. We were comfortably made fast, when . a strong 

 northerly gale set in and blew heavily, but, thanks to the 

 island for its shelter, as it kept the heavy floes from drifting 

 upon us. We were obliged to carry extra warps out their 

 full length, as the floe to which we were made fast kept 

 breaking up in pieces. This lasted twenty-four hours, 

 which made us think there would be a fine opening through 

 Melville Bay. 



When we reached the Duck Islands, we found the wind 

 had been too northerly to open the Bay, but had drifted 

 the loose floes along the land ice ; when it became calm the 

 ice did not leave the fast floe for some hours. Immediately 

 it eased, we began to steam into the Bay, and were joined by 

 six or seven steamers, \)ut they were soon out of sight. The 

 wind began to blow from the north-west, and as our ship 

 could not steam head to wind, we sent top-gallant yards down 

 and all hands on the ice to track her into a more sheltered 

 position about half a mile further, but it required all our 

 strength, and full power of steam to reach it, and when we 

 had done so we made fast until the wind abated. The 

 loose floes kept squeezing upon the land floe for some time. 

 A dark sky began to loom in the south, and was quickly 

 followed by sudden gusts of wind from the south-west. We 

 were well protected by a strong point of ice, and we began 

 to saw a dock in the bight, and had no sooner got safely 

 into it, when the gale burst upon us with all its fury. Boats, 

 clothes, and provisions were quickly removed a distance 

 from the ship. 



The ice came slowly but surely towards us, and pressed 

 heavily upon the land floe. So long as the broad point 

 held we were safe ; if it gave way nothing could save us. 

 When the ice reached the ship it came to a stand-still, but 

 not before we had a hard squeeze. This gale lasted several 

 hours, but during its continuance the weather was clear. 



From the mast-head, we could see the floes coming in 



