TROUBLES IN THE ICE. 
89 
As the men busy themselves with commendable 
alacrity, they spin yarns without number of former 
voyages: their adventures and disasters furnish a 
never-failing supply of details. Two weather-beaten 
men told how five winters ago the Diana , a steam 
bark, of Hull, was beset in the ice in Davis’ Straits, 
and how the captain of another vessel agreed with 
them to stand by each other in every difficulty 
that might arise. They told of their long and labo¬ 
rious voyage to Lancaster Sound, where they were 
“ nipped ” in the ice, and the hatchway of the 
Diana was twisted completely round. Turning south 
again they were beset in the middle ice, and all 
these difficulties were encountered by a ship hardly 
supplied with necessaries for the voyage out. The 
Diana was short also in her coal supply, and when 
her last bushel was expended and they were forced to 
rely on their sails alone, they had the misfortune of 
seeing the ice open and their consort steam away 
without even offering a helping hand. Their efforts 
to extricate themselves by the tedious method of 
warping, proved abortive, and the ice closed in upon 
them once more, cutting off all chance of escape. All 
through the long winter months that ensued they 
patiently waited for the help they expected from 
companions who might have found some way to their 
