Chapter V. 



NAVIGATION OF DAVIS' STRAITS. 



^UNDAY, May 25th.— This morning the 

 ice closed in rapidly upon us, and from 

 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., when we emerged 

 into tolerably open water, we have 

 been boring and pushing our way under steam and 

 sail through interminable fields of ice. At times we 

 were immovably fixed between heavy floes, making 

 no headway whatever, then again we were rushing 

 through young and brashy ice, splitting and driving 

 the fragments before and on each side of us. Occa- 

 sionally we came into contact with an unusually 

 heavy piece with such violence as to cause the ship 

 to recoil several yards, when she again gathers way 

 and again charges her almost impenetrable foe. 



As far as the eye could see was nothing but ice, 

 with here and there narrow streams or leads of 

 water; altogether a most desolate and cheerless 

 scene, the monotony of which was only relieved by 



