148 



VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. 



AUGUST 



but in such a sheltered position I never expected 

 danger to be near. 



At the top of high- water a passing floe pushed the 

 bow of the ' Alert ' on shore, but so lightly that, had 

 it given us room, we could have readily hauled her 

 off again. Before we had sufficient time to do so the 

 water had fallen so much that we were hard and fast 

 aground. As the water fell the ship heeled over to- 



' ALERT ' ON SHORE. 



wards the sea twenty-two degrees. The forefoot being 

 exposed as far aft as the foremast, I was rather anxious 

 lest she should fall over altogether. 



As the tide rose we used suitable pieces of ice as 

 rafts to carry out one of the bower anchors and chain 

 cable, hauling them astern to the desired positions by 

 a hawser ; the raft was then destroyed by gunpowder, 

 and the anchor fell to the bottom. 



