652 APPENDIX 



so much animal life in the water as there had been the year 

 before. 



For a few days after she got loose, the Fraiii lay in a very 

 good position in the pool : but during the night of August 14th 

 a high block of ice came floating down the lane, which had now 

 widened a little, and jammed itself between the ship's side and 

 the farther edge of the pool, which it thus entirely blocked. 

 As we did not like having this uncomfortable and dangerous 

 colossus close at our side, in case we should remain at the same 

 spot throughout the autumn and winter, we determined to blast 

 it away. Scott-Hansen and Nordahl at once took this in hand, 

 and accomplished the task after several days' labor. 



On Saturday afternoon, August ijtli, a pretty strong ice- 

 pressure suddenl}- set in around us. In the course of a few min- 

 utes the Frani was lifted 22 inches by the stern, and 14 inches 

 by the bow. In stately fashion, with no noise, and without 

 heeling over in the least, the heavy \-essel was swiftly and lightly 

 raised, as if she had been a feather — a spectacle at once impres- 

 sive and reassuring. 



The next day the ice slackened a little again, and the shij) 

 was once more afloat. So it lay quieth' until the morning of the 

 2 1st, when another strong pressure began. The ship now lay in 

 a very awkward position, with a high hummock on each side, 

 which gripped her amidships for a space of about 9 )'ards, and 

 screwed her up 6 or 8 inches. But the pressure ended in half an 

 hour or so, and the Frain sank again into her former berth. 



When there were s}-mptoms of pressure we always tried to 

 warp the ship as far awa}' as possible from the threatening point, 

 and occasionally we succeeded. But during the stormy weather, 

 with southerly winds, which prevailed at this time, it was often 

 quite impossible to get her to budge : for she offered a great 

 surface to the wind, with her heavy rigging and the high awning 

 forward. Our united forces were often unable to move her an 

 inch, and ice-anchors, moorings, and warping-cables were per- 

 petually breaking. 



At last, on August 22d, we succeeded in warping the ship 

 along a bit, so that we might hope to escape pressure if the ice 



