THE "TEKROK" IN PEKIL. 201 



uncertain, I desired that the small bags in which those things were contained should 

 be placed on deck with the provisions, so as to be ready at an instant. The forenoon 

 was spent in getting up bales of blankets, bear-skins, provisions, pyroligneous acid for 

 fuel, and, in short, whatever might be necessary if the ship should be suddenly broken 

 up ; and spars were rigged over, the quarters to hoist them out. Meanwhile the ice 

 moved but little, though the hour of full moon was passed; but at noon it began to 

 drift slowly to the north waid We were now from five to eight miles of the nearest land. 



BACK ADDRESSING THE SEAMEN. 



"Though I had seen vast bodies of ice from Spitzbergen to 150 west longitude under 

 various aspects, some beautiful, and all more or less awe-inspiring, I had never witnessed, 

 nor even imagined, anything so fearfully magnificent as the moving towers and ramparts 

 that now frowned on every side. Had the still extensive pieces of which the floe was 

 formed split and divided like those further off, the effect would have been far less injurious to 

 the ship. ; but though cracked and rent, the parts, from some inexplicable cause, closed again 

 for a time, and drove with accelerated and almost irresistible force against the defenceless 

 vessel. In the forenoon the other boats were hoisted higher up, to save them from damage 

 in the event of the ship being thrown much over on her broadside. For three hours we 

 remained unmolested, though the ice outside of the floe was moving in various directions, 

 some pieces almost whirling round, and of course, in the effort, disturbing others. At 

 106 



