1876 NEWS OF BEAUMONT'S PARTY. ] 27 



some two hundred yards from the main line of the 

 floebergs, and had been of great service in keeping the 

 line of the drifting pack at a safe distance from us ; 

 but on this occasion the point of a large floe which 

 was drifting south close inshore brought the weight of 

 the whole pack on this particular mass. As it received 

 the pressure, the floeberg was reared up in the air to 

 its full height of at least sixty feet above water, and 

 turning a complete somersault fell over with a tre- 

 mendous splash, breaking into a number of pieces 

 with a great commotion, and raising a wave sufficient 

 to roll the ship considerably. 



Our protecting floeberg having been carried away, 

 the pack closed in, forcing the lighter floebergs one 

 after the other, as they became exposed, farther in- 

 shore, and at last nipped the ship slightly. 



In the evening Lieutenant Eawson and two sea- 

 men arrived from the ' Discovery/ and brought me the 

 distressing news concerning the Greenland division of 

 sledgers which has been related in the previous chapter. 

 He further informed me that Lieutenant Beaumont and 

 a party were still at Polaris Bay, but that they had 

 intended starting on the 5th for Discovery Bay. 



Although I had the fullest confidence in Lieutenant 

 Beaumont, I was naturally most anxious concerning 

 his crossing the strait when the ice was so much 

 broken-up and the spring- tides at their greatest height. 

 Consequently, in addition to our incessant watch for an 

 opening in the ice by which we might advance, many 

 an anxious look was directed towards Polaris Bay, and 

 our thoughts were chiefly engrossed on the perilous 

 position of our comrades there. 



