464 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
this hurricane were, however, in another respect, of still more 
injurious consequences to them, for it impelled the ice from the 
northward, in large floes, into all the bays and inlets; and thus 
the difficulty of the Victory affecting her passage through it, was 
greatly enhanced. Capt. Ross for some time had it in his con¬ 
templation, to move the ship a little further to the northward, 
but the situation, in which the Victory was placed, was so pecu¬ 
liar and awkward, that no opening whatever could be obtained 
The harbour was directly under an island, with a passage between 
of about 20 to SO fathoms broad, but exceedingly shallow, with 
the exception at the spring tides, and then there was water 
sufficient in some places to carry her through. Pieces of wood 
were laid down as buoys, for the purpose of making a fair chan¬ 
nel, but the depth of the water taken by soundings, was so 
unequal, and the changes so sudden, that one moment, the vessel 
might be in deep water, and in the next, her keel might be rest¬ 
ing on the bottom. There was sufficiency of water to enable the 
Victory to circumnavigate the island, but the ice was always 
so closely packed about the outside of it, that all attempts at 
navigation would be found fruitless. In the main passage, where 
the Victory lay, the depth of water was sometimes only 15 
inches, and generally varying from three feet to four and five- 
fathoms. To attempt to force this passage at low water, would 
have been tantamount to the destruction of the ship, or to a deten¬ 
tion for another winter in the harbour, which might ultimately be 
the means of defeating altogether the object of the expedition. 
It was the determination of Capt. Ross to get through the pas¬ 
sage at high water ; and, taking advantage of the spring tides, 
on the 4th September, the men, with three hearty cheers, threw 
off the lines, and began the warping of the ship through the 
passage. It was the moment of enthusiastic exhiliration through¬ 
out the ship ; from man to man the hurrah of congratulation 
passed merrily, for the ship was again afloat, and steering on¬ 
wards for her destination. 
It was exactly at two o’clock, on the 4th September, that the 
Victory left Felix Harbour; but short, indeed, was the period of 
their mirth, for she had scarcely proceeded three times her own 
