ICE AGAIN. 
285 
this cheering prospect was interrupted by a fresh 
line of ice being reported, not only ahead, but as far 
as the eye could reach on the port bow—so again the 
schooner’s head was put to the westward, and the 
old story recommenced. And now the flank of the second 
barrier was turned, and we were able to edge up a few 
hours to the northward; but only to be again con¬ 
fronted by another line, more interminable—apparently 
—than the last. But, why should I weary you with 
the detail of our various manoeuvres during the ensuing 
days? they were too tedious and disheartening at the 
time, for me to look back upon them with any 
pleasure. Suffice it to say, that by dint of sailing 
north whenever the ice would permit us, and sailing 
west when we could not sail north,—we found ourselves 
on the 2d of August, in the latitude of the southern 
extremity of Spitzbergen, though divided from the land 
by about fifty miles of ice. All this while the weather 
had been pretty good, foggy and cold enough, but with 
a fine stiff breeze that rattled us along at a good rate 
whenever we did get a chance of making any Northing. 
But lately it had come on to blow very hard, the cold 
became quite piercing, and what was worse—in every 
