Aug, 1858. PERILOUS AMUSEMENT. 187 



hope ; grim winter will not ratify tlie obstinate 

 proceedings of tlie western ice for nearly four 

 weeks. 



Last evening's amusement was most exciting, 

 nor was it without its peculiar perils. With 

 cunning and activity worthy of her name, our 

 little craft warily avoided a tilting-match with 

 the stout blue masses which whirled about, as if 

 with wilful impetuosity, through the narrow 

 channel ; some of them were so large as to 

 ground even in 6 or 7 fathoms water. Many 

 were drawn into the eddies, and, acquiring con- 

 siderable velocity in a contrary direction, sud- 

 denly broke bounds, charging out into the 

 stream and entering into mighty conflict with 

 their fellows. After such a frolic the masses 

 would revolve peaceably or unite with the 

 pack, and await quietly their certain dissolu- 

 tion ; may the day of that wished-for dissolu- 

 tion be near at hand ! Nothing but strong 

 hope of success induced me to encounter such 

 dangerous opposition. I not only hoped, but 

 almost felt, that we deserved to succeed. 



Two plans were now occupying my thoughts, 

 both of them resulting from the conviction that 

 we should probably be compelled to winter to 

 the eastward of Bellot Strait: the most im- 

 j)ortant of these plans is that of fiuding some 



