DANGEROUS SHELTER. 441 



" In the course of the night the breeze freshened, and it was fortunate 

 for us we were under such good shelter. During the entire 30th, we were 

 confined to our position, not daring to venture with our boats from either 

 end of the floe — so heavy was the drift, tearing and crashing past with 

 fearful violence. The schooner was just in the stream of it, and at times 

 completely surrounded, and heeling over with the weight when taken on 'the 

 broadside. At length Mr Sheddon, by perseverance and good management, 

 brought her up alongside of us, and shared the snug berth we had secured. 



" There was nothing left for us now but to get our small boats ready, 

 and push on with the first opportunity, for I did not expect to get the larger 

 ones farther, so I had the whalers loaded with seventy days' provisions for 

 fourteen men (the number we should muster), besides twenty cases of 

 pemmican, each containing about thirty pounds. This burden sank them - 

 very deep ; and when the crews got in with their small stock of clothing, 

 I found it was rather more than the boats could bear. A weight of pro- 

 visions, amounting to ten days' consumption for each man, was then taken 

 out of each ; and I determined, besides, if an opportunity should occur, to 

 take the large boats on to Point Barrow, or even beyond it, if I should see 

 sufficient reason to satisfy me that the ice would continue in a sufficiently 

 open state to allow of their return. On overhauling our provision, I found 

 we were short of bread. Mr Sheddon having been informed of our want, 

 immediately supplied us with two bags, as also with a pickaxe and shovel, 

 articles we should most certainly want for the purpose of making deposits ; 

 and at the same time offered to supply us with any description of store we 

 might require, as he had an abundance of every sort on board. 



" The morning of the 31st set in with a thick and heavy fog, the wind being 

 still from the old quarter, and as much ice as ever driving past our break- 

 water and pressing heavily on its weather side. At seven a.m. the fog 

 broke away ; and at eight a.m., between the heavy pressure of ice and our 

 weight to leeward, our friend the floe parted with a crash, and set us all 

 adrift. We were soon under sail, turning to windward to fetch the large 

 floe which lay on the eastern side of the bay, but were obliged to wind and 

 turn about so much, to avoid contact with the loose ice, that it was past ten 

 o'clock before we could manage it, although the two floes lay only half a 

 mile distant when we parted, and that one to which we were directing our 

 course was less than a quarter of a mile to windward. The schooner being 

 heavier, was not so easily managed among the ice, and it was half-past 

 twelve before she got alongside of us again. Turning to windward, and 

 winding amongst the loose masses in gallant style, Mr Sheddon came up 

 safely, and immediately sent his carpenter to repair some slight damages we 

 had sustained in the crash. Towards evening the wind became moderate, 

 with less drift-ice, and the channel apparently clear; so at 6.30 p.m. we cast 

 8 3k 



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