FATE OF THE "HANSA." 



261 



forced it up, slowly at first, then quicker, until it was raised seventeen feet out of its 

 former position upon the ice. This movement we tried to ease as much as possible by 

 shovelling 1 away the ice and snow from the larboard side. The rising of the ship was 

 an extraordinary and awful, yet splendid spectacle, of which the whole crew were witnesses 

 from the ice. In all haste the clothing, nautical instruments, journals and cards [the 

 translator means charts] were taken over the landing-bridge. The after part of the ship, 

 unfortunately, would not rise, and therefore the stern-post had to bear the most frightful 



A YOVXO BEAR CHAIXEH TO AN ANCHOR. 



pressure, and the conviction that the ship must soon break up forced itself upon our 

 minds." At the end of the afternoon the ice retreated, and the vessel was once more 

 again in her native element. The pumps were set to work, and it was soon made clear 

 that all their exertions would not save the schooner, for the water steadily gained upon them. 

 The fate of the Hansa was sealed, and the coal-house on the ice was destined to be their 

 only refuge, may-be their grave. 



The work of removing everything available went on steadily. A snow-storm had 

 raged during the day, but it cleared in the evening ; the moon shed her cold light over 

 the dreary ice-fields, and ever and anon the Northern lights flashed over them in many 

 changing colours. The men, whether at the pumps, or engaged in removing the stores, had 

 a hard time of it. The decks were thick with ice, and those at the pumps stood in tubs 

 to keep dry and warm. Night allowed the crew some few hours of welcome rest, and at 

 early dawn all set to work again. " But the catastrophe was near ; at 8 A.M. the men 

 who were busy in the fore-peak, getting out firewood, came with anxious faces, with the 

 news that the wood was already floating below. When the captain had ascertained the 



