DIFFICULTIES. 
217 
path along which we had picked our way; in order to 
return, therefore, it would be necessary to work the ship 
to windward through a sea as thickly crammed with ice 
as a lady’s boudoir is with furniture. Moreover, it 
had become evident, from the obvious closing of the 
open spaces, that some considerable pressure was acting 
upon the outside of the field; but whether originating 
in a current or the change of wind, or another field 
being driven down upon it, I could not tell. Be that 
as it might, out we must get,—unless we wanted to be 
cracked like a walnut-shell between the drifting ice 
and the solid belt to leeward; so sending a steady hand 
to the helm,—for these unusual phenomena had begun 
to make some of my people lose their heads a little, 
no one on board having ever seen a bit of ice before,— 
I stationed myself in the bows, while Mr. Wyse conned 
the vessel from the square yard. Then there began 
one of the prettiest and most exciting pieces of nautical 
manoeuvring that can be imagined. Every single soul 
on board was summoned upon deck; to all, their 
several stations and duties were assigned—always ex¬ 
cepting the cook, who was merely directed to make him¬ 
self generally useful. iVs soon as everybody was ready, 
