OF THE POLAR SEA. 



15 



A heavy gale came on, blowing from the land, as the night advanced ; 

 the sails were split, the ship was encompassed by heavy ice, and, in 

 forcing through a closely-connected stream, the tow-rope broke, and 

 obliged us to take a portion of the seamen from the pumps, and ap- 

 point them to the management of the ship. 



Fatigue, indeed, had caused us to relax in our exertions at the 

 pumps during a part of the night of the 8th, and on the following 

 morning upwards of five feet water was found in the well. Renewed 

 exertions were now put forth by every person, and before eight A.M. 

 the water was so much reduced as to enable the carpenters to get at 

 other defective places ; but the remedies they could apply were in- 

 sufficient to repress the water from rushing in, and our labours could 

 but just keep the ship in the same state throughout the day, until 

 six P.M. ; when the strength of every one began to fail, the expe- 

 dient of thrusting in felt, as well as oakum, was resorted to, and a 

 plank nailed over all. After this operation a perceptible diminution 

 in the water was made, and being encouraged by the change, we put 

 forth our utmost exertion in bailing and pumping, and before night, 

 to our infinite joy, the leak was so overpowered that the pumps were 

 only required to be used at intervals of ten minutes. A sail, covered 

 with every substance that could be carried into the leaks by the 

 pressure of the water, was drawn under the quarter of the ship, and 

 secured by ropes on each side. 



As a matter of precaution in the event of having to abandon the 

 ship, which was for some time doubtful, the elderly women and 

 children were removed to the Eddystone when the wind was mode- 

 rate this afternoon, but the young women remained to assist at the 

 pumps, and their services were highly valuable, both for their per- 

 sonal labour, and for the encouragement their example and perse- 

 verance gave to the men. 



At day-light, on the 9th, every eye was anxiously cast around the 

 horizon in search of the Wear, but in vain; and the recollection of 



