OF THE POLAR SEA* 251 



their broadsides to the waves, though we 

 sometimes steered with all the paddles. 

 One of them narrowly escaped being overset 

 by this accident, which occurred in a mid- 

 channel, where the waves were so high that 

 the mast-head of our canoe was often hid 

 from the other, though it was sailing within 

 hail. 



The traverse, however, was made; we 

 were then near a high rocky lee shore, on 

 which a heavy surf was beating. The wind 

 being on the beam, the canoes drifted fast 

 to leeward; and on rounding a point the 

 recoil of the sea from the rocks was so 

 great, that they were with difficulty kept 

 from foundering. We looked in vain for a 

 sheltered bay to land in; but at length, 

 being unable to weather another point, we 

 were obliged to put ashore on the open 

 beach, which fortunately was sandy at this 

 spot. The debarkation was effected, fortu- 

 nately, without further injury than splitting 

 the head of the second canoe, which was 

 easily repaired. 



Our encampment being near the spot 



