THE AURORA'S DRIFT 
sant grinding and grating of the ice to the southward, with 
seething noises, as of water rushing under the ship's bottom, 
and ominous sounds, kept me on the qui vive all night, and 
the prospect of a break-up of the ice would have wracked my 
nerves had I not had them numbed by previous experiences. 
" July 9. — At noon the vsky to the northward had cleared 
sufficiently to allow of seeing Mount Melbourne, which appears 
now as a low peak to the north-west. Ship's position is twenty- 
eight miles north-north-east of Franklin Island. On the port 
bow and ahead of the ship there are some enormous pressure- 
ridges ; they seem to be the results of the recent and present 
ice-movements. Pressure he<ard from the southward all day. 
July 13. — At 5 p.m. very heavy pressure was heard on 
the port beam and bow (south) and very close to the ship. This 
occurred again at irregular intervals. Quite close to the ship 
the ice could be seen bending upwards, and occasional jars 
were felt on board. I am incHned to think that we have set 
into a cul-de-sac and that we will now experience the full force 
of pressure from the south. We have prepared for the worst 
and can only hope for the best— a release from the ice with a 
seaworthy vessel under us. 
July 18.— This has been a day of events. About 8 a.m. 
the horizon to the north became clear and, as the hght grew, 
the more westerly land showed up. This is the first clear day 
that we have had since the 9th of the month, and we have set 
a considerable distance to the north-east in the meantime. By 
meridian altitudes of stars and bearings of the land, which 
proved to be Coulman Islands, Mount Murchison, and Mount 
Melbourne, our position shows seventy-eight miles (geogra- 
phical) north-east by north of FranHin Island. During the 
last three days we have drifted forty miles (geographical), so 
there has been ample reason for all the grinding and growling 
of pressure lately. The ship endured some severe squeezes 
this day. 
''July 20.— Shortly before breakfast the raucous voice of 
the emperor penguin was heard, and afterwards two were 
seen some distance from the ship. . . . The nearest mainland 
(in vicinity of Cape Washington) is ninety miles distant, as also 
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