42 CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



It blew too hard to beat up to Port Clarence, so we hove to 

 and trusted to luck to clear the islands and dangerous shores 

 of Behring Strait. We had a very heavy sea running, and 

 although we kept as near as possible to the wind, we shipped a 

 lot of water, and the ship laboured heavily and was leaking 

 considerably. 



At 3 P.M., just as I had gone down, it was reported that we 

 had twenty fathoms standing shorewards ; ten minutes later we 

 had seventeen, and immediately after we had fifteen. Before 

 we could jibe round and lay outward we were on seven fathoms, 

 which, although we headed west, decreased to six, and a 

 quarter of an hour later to five fathoms. No breakers were 

 visible from aloft, but nevertheless we had less and less water 

 under us, and came down to about four fathoms with a very 

 heavy ground swell. ^ 



We held the anchor in readiness, for in case the water should 

 get still shoaler it was our only chance of safety, and, I admit, 

 a very small one. Parker hove the lead, and did it admirably. 

 It was very cold work, soaked as he was from the lead line and 

 by the seas breaking over him, and standing exposed to the 

 very cold wind ; we all admired him for the way in which he 

 stuck to his task and sang out the depth as near as he could 

 judge. Everybody was on deck, except Mr. Ditlevsen, who was 

 ill, and we all listened anxiously as Parker sang out the depth. 

 Mr. Lefnngwell and Dr. Howe stood aft with me, but not a 

 murmur passed their lips to indicate that they realized the 

 danger we were in, though the interest which they took in the 

 soundings, and the way in which they looked at me, told more 

 plainly than words that they too expected us to strike any 

 minute, and so to end our career. 



At last the water increased in depth. For more than fifteen 

 minutes it had been abqut four fathoms ; then it commenced to 

 increase, very slightly at first, but increase it did. The faces 

 of all on board showed their relief, though whenever the lead 

 was hove they seemed to hold their breath for fear of what was 

 coming. But at last the depth increased perceptibly, and we 

 filled the sails a little more to get away from the dangerous 

 neighbourhood. 



We soon hove the lead again and had nine fathoms. Then the 

 water increased rapidly, and before long we were again in twenty 



