16 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



our own recent peril caused us to entertain considerable apprehensions 

 for her safety. This anxiety quickened our efforts to exchange our 

 shattered sails for new ones, that the ship might be got, as speedily 

 as possible, near to the land, which was but just in sight, and a care- 

 ful search be made for her along the coast. We were rejoiced to find 

 that our leak did not increase by carrying sail, and we ventured in 

 the evening to remove the sail which had been placed under the 

 part where the injury had been received, as it greatly impeded our 

 advance. 



We passed many icebergs on the 10th, and in the evening we 

 tacked from a level field of iee, which extended northward as far as 

 the eye could reach. Our leak remained in the same state ; the 

 pumps discharged in three minutes the quantity of water which had 

 been received in fifteen. 



The ship could not be got near to the land before the afternoon of 

 the 1 1th. At four P.M. we hove to, opposite to, and about five miles 

 distant from, the spot on which we had first struck on Saturday. Every 

 glass was directed along the shore (as they had been throughout the 

 day), to discover any trace of our absent consort; but, as none was seen, 

 our solicitude respecting her was much increased, and we feared the 

 crew might be wrecked on this inhospitable shore. Guns were fre- 

 quently fired to apprize any who might be near of our approach ; but, 

 as no one appeared, and no signal was returned, and the loose ice was 

 setting down towards the ship, we bore up to proceed to the next ap- 

 pointed rendezvous. At eight P.M. we were abreast of the S.W. 

 end of the island called Cape Eesolution, which is a low point, but 

 indicated at a distance by a lofty round backed hill that rises above 

 it. We entered Hudson's Straits soon afterwards. 



The coast of Eesolution Island should be approached with caution, 

 as the tides appear to be strong and uncertain in their course. Some 

 dangerous rocks he above and below the water's edge, at the distance 

 of five or six miles from East Bluff, bearing S. 32° E. 



