250 
CRISIS. 
Dec. 6. Dec. 7. 
, " The above is a rough idea of our last three days' 
positions and changes. 
" From this it is evident that a gradual process of 
breaking up has taken place. We are afloat. 
" The ice, as I have sketched it, December 7, began 
to close at 11 A.M., and, at the same time, the brig 
was driven toward the open crack of December 4 (c). 
At 1 P.M. this closed on us with fearful nipping. 
- " 1 P.M. Ran on deck. The ice was comparatively 
quiescent when I attempted to write ; but it recom- 
menced with a steady pressure, which must soon prove 
irresistible. It catches against a protruding tongue 
forward, and is again temporarily arrested. 
"4 P.M. Up from dinner — ' all hands !' The ice 
came in, with the momentum before mentioned as ' ir- 
resistible,' progressive and grand. All expected to be- 
take ourselves sledgeless to the ice, for the open space 
around the vessel barely admits of a foot-board. The 
timbers, and even cross-beams protected by shores, vi- 
bra;ted so as to communicate to you the peculiar tremor 
of a cotton-factory. Presently the stern of the brig, 
by a succession of jerking leaps, began to rise, while 
her bows dipped toward the last night's ice ahead. 
Every body looked to see her fall upon her beam-ends, 
and rushed out upon the ice. After a few anxious 
breath-compressed moments, our nobly-strengthened 
little craft rose up upon the encroaching floes bodily. 
