July, 1858. ICE CLOSING AGAIN. 141 



been exposed to a swell, the fractured edges 

 remaining sharp. 



Qth. — Midnight. Last evening I persevered 

 to the N. until every hope of progress in that 

 direction vanished. To the W. the pack ap- 

 peared tolerably loose ; the wind was fresh at 

 E.S.E., so I determined once more to push into 

 it, and endeavour to battle our way through ; I 

 hoped it would prove to be merely a belt of 30 

 or 40 miles in width. We found the ice to lie 

 for the most part in streams at right angles to 

 the wind, and therefore much more open than it 

 had appeared : there was seldom any difficulty 

 in winding through it from one water space to 

 another. The wind greatly increased, bringing 

 much rain, but fortunately no fog ; — the dread 

 of this hung over me like a nightmare, — our 

 progress depended upon the vigilance of the 

 look-out kept in the crow's-nest. By noon we 

 had made good 60 miles. Throughout the day 

 the wind has gradually moderated ; the rain 

 gave place to snow, which in its turn was suc- 

 ceeded by mist. The evening was fine even- 

 tually and clear ; but still we find the ice is all 

 around. Just before midnight the termination of 

 our lead was discovered, whilst the ice through 

 which we had passed was closing together, and 

 a dense fog came rolling down. Under these 



