MARCH OF THE BERGS. 
461 
the kingly bergs began their impressive march. Our 
anchorage seemed to be a fixed centre, influencing the 
general tidal streams. The set of the surface ice was 
rapid to the south ; but where it struck against our 
island safeguard, the counter-stream worked its way 
toward the shore. 
In the midst of this combination of floe-movements, 
the tide changed, and the inshore bergs began to bear 
down upon ns, moving steadily against the surface 
current, and nearly against the wind. One of these, 
of quadrangular form, with a back like a table-land, 
and in bulk more than equal to two such as our own, 
advanced from the recesses of the land at the rate of 
a knot an hour, crumbling all opposing floes before it. 
Mr. Murdaugh and myself had accomplished a some- 
what arduous journey over the ice to the Prince 
Albert. We returned just as the two bergs were about 
to meet, crushing our Httle vessels to atoms in their 
embrace. It was a sight to make " the bravest hold 
his breath ;" more fearful by much than any whose 
peril we had shared. But we doubled a projecting 
crag ; and it was past. Just as the drifting berg was 
about impinging on the other, it yielded a very little to 
some inexplicable counter-drift ; moved slowly round 
on its axis to the northward ; and, passing within fifty 
yards of the brigs, continued its majestic progress di- 
rectly in the wind's eye. It was a narrow escape : the 
Rescue was heeled over considerably by the floes which 
were forced in upon her, driving in her port bulwarks 
and demolishing her monkey-rail. 
The same fearful scene was renewed the next day. 
A'Second quadrangle stood out from the shore at the 
same rate as the other, and had approached within 
short biscuit-cast, when a deep, protruding tongue, al- 
