96' STEONG GALES. Chap. VI. 



tlie ship, becoming suddenly detaclied from the 

 ice, heeled over to the storm ; until the cause 

 was ascertained we thought the ice had broken 

 up, and pressed against the ship. It was not 

 so ; but when the weather moderated we found 

 that there had been heavy pressure upon the 

 edge of the floes, — so much, indeed, that the 

 lane of water was now within 70 yards of the 

 ' Fox ;' and that ice 4i feet thick had been 

 crushed during the storm for a distance of about 

 50 yards. ■ 



2Mh. — Strong N.W. winds lately, the ship 

 rocking to the breeze, and rubbing her poor sides 

 against the ice, producing a creaking sound which 

 is far from pleasant. More ice-squeezing, and a 

 further inroad upon our barrier ; it has yielded 

 slightly, nipping the ship, inclining her to port, 

 and lifting her stern about a foot. Occasional 

 groanings within, and surgings of the ice 

 without. 



Our boats, provisions, sledges, knapsacks, and 

 equipment, are ready for a hasty departure, 

 • — beyond this we can do nothing ; as long as 

 our friendly barrier lasts we need not fear, but 

 who can tell the moment it may be demolished, 

 and the ship exposed to destruction ? I am 

 scfibbling within a foot of the sternpost — in fact 

 there is a notch in my table to receive it ; and 



