♦ 



OF THE POLAR SEA. 25 



inches, but it fortunately had been pre- 

 viously confined by tackles. A gentle swell 

 freed the ship from this perilous situation, 

 but the current hurried us along in contact 

 with the rocky shore, and the prospect was 

 most alarming. On the outward bow was 

 perceived a rugged and precipitous cliff, 

 whose summit was hid in the fog, and the 

 vessel's head was pointed towards the bot- 

 tom of a small bay, into which we were 

 rapidly driving. There now seemed to be 

 no probability of escaping shipwreck, being 

 without wind, and having the rudder in its 

 present useless state; the only assistance 

 was that of a boat employed in towing, 

 which had been placed in the water between 

 the ship and the shore, at the imminent risk 

 of its being crushed. The ship again struck 

 in passing over a ledge of rocks, and hap- 

 pily the blow replaced the rudder, which 

 enabled us to take advantage of a light 

 breeze, and to direct the ship's head with- 

 out the projecting cliff. But the breeze 

 was only momentary, and the ship was a 

 third time driven on shore on the rocky 



