LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
515 
strain was tremendous—the men were hanging on their hand¬ 
spikes—another haul of the capstern, and perhaps all was 
safe.—It was a moment of breathless expectation—Yo ho! — 
my lads, exclaimed Commander Ross—Yo ho! echoed the 
seaman—off she goes! cried Commander Ross.—Helm-a lee, 
cried Capt Ross.—Steady, my lads, cried Commander Ross— 
she is right.—The Victory floated into deep water—she was 
hauled in shore to the westward, and remained in that position 
during the whole of the night. 
The morning- of the 29th, broke with strong breezes from 
west by south, all hands were turned out as early as 3 o’clock 
in the morning, and the first part of their duty, was to ship the 
rudder. The boat was hoisted up, and the vessel was once more 
under way. The dingey was got on board, and the ship stretched 
gallantly across the bay, towards the north point. At 5 p. m. 
the breezes freshened, by which, the jib was split, and the mizen 
lug boom carried away; a new jib was immediately bent, the 
ship working hard to windward. Capt. Ross now made a 
trial of his lee boards, but their utility was nearly on a par with 
the steam engine. At 7, set the gaff top-sail and fore-top-gal- 
lant-sail, some heavy squalls coming on, with the wind veering 
to the northward; thick weather accompanied with snow. They 
now entered a small bay clear of ice ; the ship was hauled to the 
wind, and put about while in stays; the wind, however, baffled 
her from westering, but still having head-way, she ran so close 
to the shore, that according to the phraseology of the sailors, 
they could spit their quids on the rocks. 
The jib at last took the right way, and as the ship came round, 
she caught with her heel upon the rocks, so close to land, that 
it was very easy to step from the stern on shore. At 11, they 
tacked again, and stood over to the south-west shore ; the boat 
was sent away with a forty fathom line, and it was made fast on 
shore; they hove on it, but it slipped off, the ship having at 
that time shortened sail. The lead was heaved overboard, and 
found twenty-ihree fathoms water; the anchor was let go, and 
another line run out, to which the ship was made fast. In the 
afternoon, Commander Ross surveyed the bay, and on his return, 
23. 4 a 
