SPITZBEBGEN. 
195 
every narrow channel. Her bows serve as a wedge to 
drive asunder the obstacles. Some of us ; going in 
advance of the ship, force open a channel by pressing 
the larger blocks out of our way, the openings thus 
made soon filling up with lesser ice. But after all our 
exertions it often happens she cannot be got into the 
passages we have constructed in this way. The ser¬ 
vices of the harpooners are now fully tested, and the 
knowledge they have gained in the old whaling ships 
is invaluable to us now. They know this work well, 
and, being accustomed to it, give confidence to the 
rest. A steamer would of course make light work of 
these difficulties which to our sailing vessel are almost 
insuperable. 
The fog lifting at this time, we descry land, and 
that blue cloud which indicates unfailingly open water 
beneath. Now we press on down a narrow channel of 
some two hundred yards. A block of ice checks our 
course ; this removed, we are in a little sea, guarded 
by a neck of ice which acts somewhat like a gate ; 
this too is rent open, and we at last sail upon the 
open water, clear as far as the north foreland. 
In the far distance we clearly see high perpendicular 
rocks, culminating in snowy peaks. 
We now steer direct for Moffen Island, hoping to 
go from there to Vertigen Hook, and thence to the 
Seven Islands, where the Swedish Expedition intend 
