PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
313 
serious difficulty presented itself — the mouth of a river into which the CHAP, 
current set with great velocity, carrying with it large masses of ice. 
After many attempts we succeeded in getting a line across ; but had Narrative 
no sooner accomplished it, than it broke, and our repeated trials for 
a long time were unsuccessful. Eventually we managed to overcome 
this obstacle, and had just got the boat to the opposite shore when she 
grounded ; and the current setting strong against her, all our exertions 
to set her afloat were ineffectual. A few minutes before this accident, 
O 
Mr. Elson, w'ho was on board, hailed me, saying that the channel after 
crossing the river looked more favourable than ever. Cheered by this 
report, we worked harder ; but so quick was the ice in its movement, 
that in a few moments we were enclosed on all sides. Nothing more 
towards freeing the boat could now be done, therefore we carried out 
her anchors to the shore and secured her, contemplating a retreat by 
land should we not be so fortunate as to get clear. On looking to 
the southward, we found the ice perfectly compact, and connected with 
the shore, not leaving visible a space of water three yards in diameter. 
The crew now enjoyed a little rest ; and Mr. Elson decided that we 
should remain by the boat until the 1st of September, on which day, 
should no chance appear of liberating her, we were to start by land for 
Kotzebue Sound. 
Some large ice grounding to windw'ard partially sheltered the boat ; 
but as her situation was on the southern bank of the entrance to the river, 
the current swept with force round, bringing occasionally some heavy 
ice in contact with the boat, the violence of which hove her into a foot 
and a half less water than she drew ; and the sand soon formed a bank 
on the outside, leaving her quite bedded. At six p. m. the current 
had almost subsided. A most cheerless prospect presented itself, the 
whole sea being covered with ice sufficiently compact to walk upon ; and 
the clouds becoming heavy and flying swiftly from the S. W. offered 
not the smallest hope of our escape. The water had likewise fallen a 
foot and a half, leaving the boat nearly dry. Our feelings now were 
indescribable, as it appeared very evident that we should be obliged to 
abandon our little vessel, and perform the journey to Chamisso Island 
on foot an undertaking we were by no means adequate to, and which 
s s 
