forcing through young ice of
considerable thickness. We were now once more obliged to be quiet
spectators of what was going on around us, having, with extreme
difficulty, succeeded in saving most of our tools that were lying on the
ice when the squeezing suddenly began.

A sudden motion of the ice, on the morning of the 22d, occasioned by a
change of the wind to the S.E., threatened to carry us directly off the
land. It was now, more than ever, desirable to hold on, as this breeze
was likely to clear the shore, and, at the same time, to give us a run
to the westward. Hawsers were therefore run out to the land-ice,
composed of some heavy masses, almost on the beach. With the Hecla this
succeeded, but the Fury being much farther from the shore, soon began to
move out with the whole body of ice, which, carrying her close to the
large berg off the point, swept her round the latter, where, after great
exertion, Captain Hoppner succeeded in getting clear, and then made sail
to beat back to us. In the mean time the strain put upon the Hecla's
hawsers being too great for them, they snapped one after another, and a
bower-anchor was let go as a last resource. It was one of Hawkins's,
with the double fluke, and immediately brought up, not merely the ship,
but a large floe of young ice which had just broken our stream-cable.
All hands were sent upon the floe to cut it up ahead, and the whole
operation was a novel, and, at times, a fearful one; for the ice, being
weakened by the cutting, would suddenly gather fresh way astern,
carrying men and tools with it, while the chain cable continued to
plough through it in a manner which gave one the idea of something
alive, and continually renewing its attacks. The anchor held
surprisingly; and after this tremendous strain had been put upon it for
above an hour, we had fairly cut the floe in two, and the ship was
riding in clear water about half a mile from the shore.

I was in hopes we should make some progress, for a large channel of
clear water was left open in-shore; a breeze blew off the land, and the
temperature of the atmosphere had again risen considerably. We had not
sailed five miles, however, when a westerly wind took us aback, and a
most dangerous swell set directly upon the shore, obliging me
immediately to stand off the land; and the Fury being still to the
eastward of the point, I ran round it in order to rejoin her before
sunset.

After midnight on the 27th the wind began