In Hudson Strait 71 



truction, clearing a water-way for her strong body with apparent 

 ease, only trembling and jolting now and then, when the heavier 

 pans were met with. But with a sailing vessel it would have been 

 very different. Such a craft would have been helpless. 



Early in the afternoon we again encountered ice, which proved 

 to be more formidable. It extended, as before, out from the north 

 coast towards the centre of the Strait beyond our aided observation, 

 narrower than the first, but the pans were thicker and more com- 

 pact. For several lengths the Neptune ploughed through it as 

 before, but was finally brought to a halt. However, she was not 

 defeated. Backing up about a hundred yards, the ship was put 

 under full steam, her solidly constructed ice-smashing prow directed 

 ior the unyielding obstruction. Coming up with great force, the 

 havoc was most terrific. Great piles of ice were smashed into atoms, 

 split, torn asunder, or overridden. The ship groaned and trembled, 

 but moved onward with irresistible force, crushing and smashing all 

 before her. This display was kept up for four or five lengths of 

 the vessel, with an impatient, fretful tremor. Again she came to 

 an unwilling halt, but was not yet conquered. Reversing her power- 

 ful engines, she drew back once more, and again advanced towards 

 the foe, snorting with pent-up vengeance, and forcing her impreg- 

 nable front through and over the ice, and winning another victory. 



Half a dozen of these wonderful feats carried us through to the 

 open water beyond. We were by this time quite near to the land, 

 and on the east coast of Big Island. Near the entrance to North Bay, 

 a suitable harbour was discovered, in which the Neptune cast anchor 

 about four o'clock in the afternoon. The harbour is formed by a 

 narrow ridge of rocks that run out parallel with the coast, over 

 which we could see from the yards of the ship the open water of- 

 the Strait. 



