ch. xxvn] The Search for Franklin. L 261 
the Pioneer as far as the ice would admit, while the 
Assistance visited the Cary Islands in Baffin's Bay. The 
Intrepid had an unprecedented experience. She had been 
up Jones Sound in company with the Pioneer and was 
making for the rendezvous on August 27th when the ice 
closed round, and she was obliged to make fast to a floe. 
Soon the floe was in motion and moving rapidly towards 
a large grounded iceberg. Before the vessel could be 
extricated she was driven with a frightful crash against 
the berg at 5 p.m. The vessel rose to the heavy pressure 
and two whaleboats and the dinghy were at once got out 
on the floe. Soon the vessel's taffrail was 40 feet and 
her bow 30 feet up the side of the berg, the masses of ice 
rising nearly 10 feet above the bulwark. The crew 
prevented huge pieces from falling on board with capstan 
bars. Then the pressure ceased, the piled-up masses sank 
from alongside, and the ship was left suspended on the 
side of the berg by two small wedge-pieces, one at the 
stern post the other at the bow. It seemed inevitable 
that she must fall over on her broadside and be smashed. 
At 2 a.m. the pressure began again, the ice piling up in 
a frightful manner, and crushing the boats on the floe to 
atoms. It was blowing hard from S.E. If the vessel had 
fallen over, Lieut. Cator knew that all must perish. But 
at 2 p.m. the pressure ceased quite suddenly, and the 
ship shot down into the water, and was safe. This is 
probably the most extraordinary and appalling danger 
that any ship ever went through in the Arctic regions. 
The squadron returned to England on October 4th. 
Captain Austin had conducted the expedition with 
exceptional ability and success. M' Clint ock had gained 
more Arctic experience. He had been first lieutenant of 
the best-administered and happiest ship that ever crossed 
the Arctic Circle, he had made life-long friendships, and 
his genius had created Arctic sledge travelling. 
Sherard Osborn, enthusiastic, accomplished, and a 
perfect leader of men, was the complement of M'Clintock, 
of whom he was a friend through life. Mecham possessed 
the qualities of both, and some which were specially his 
own, a very true and perfect gentleman. Vesey Hamilton 
was thoroughly to be depended upon to do all that was 
expected from him and to do it well. All were genial 
