STORM-BOUND. — PERILOUS SITUATION ON THE ICE. 199 



where, and its convulsive throbs were now at work underneath 

 the ice close to and around us. It still blew very hard, but as yet 

 the wind was easterly, and so far good, because, if a nearer disrup- 

 tion took place, we should be forced toward the land, but if it 

 changed to north or northwest, away to sea we must go and 

 perish ! 



Seriously alarmed, we consulted as to what was best to do — 

 whether at once to hasten shoreward, or remain in the igloo and 

 stand the chance. On shore, nothing but rugged precipices and 

 steep mountains presented themselves ; on the ice, we were in 

 danger of our foundation giving way — that is, of being broken up, 

 or else driven to sea. At length we decided to remain while the 

 wind lasted in its present quarter, and, to guard as much as possi- 

 ble from any sudden movement taking us unawares, I kept with- 

 in sight my delicately -poised needle, so that the slightest shifting 

 of the ice on which we were encamped might be known. 



In the evening the gale abated, and by 10 P.M. it was calm, 

 but the heavy sea kept the ice creaking, screaming, and thunder- 

 ing, as it actually danced to and fro ! It was to me a new but 

 fearful sight. When I retired to bed I laid down with strange 

 thoughts in my mind, but with a conviction that the same protect- 

 ing hand would watch over me there as elsewhere. 



The night passed away without alarm, and in the morning 

 Koodloo made an opening with a snow-knife through the dome 

 of the igloo for peering out at the weather. He reported all clear 

 and safe, and, after a hot breakfast, we packed and started, though 

 under great difficulty and hazard. 



The ice had given way, and was on the move in every direc- 

 tion. The snow was also' very deep — sometimes above our knees 

 — and moreover very treacherous. We could hardly get along ; 

 and the poor dogs, which had been near starving since we had 

 left the ship (Esquimaux dogs endure starvation, and yet work, 

 amazingly), had to be assisted by us in pushing and hauling the 

 sledge, while constant precaution was needed against falling 

 through some snow-covered ice-crack. Every now and then we 

 came to openings made by the gale and heaving sea. Some of 

 these were so wide that our sledge could hardly bridge them, and 

 a detour would have to be made for a better spot. At other places 

 we had to overcome obstructions caused by high rugged ice that 

 had been thrown up when masses had been crushed together by 

 the tremendous power of the late storm, 



