self at an old crack, and drifted
off, leaving only about one mile and a quarter between us and the sea.
Half of this distance being occupied by the gravelled canal, which was
dissolved quite through the ice in many parts, and had become very thin
in all, every officer and man in both ships were set to work without
delay to commence a fresh canal from the open water to communicate with
the other. This work proved heavier than we expected, the ice being
generally from five to eight feet, and in many places from ten to eleven
in thickness. It was continued, however, with the greatest cheerfulness
and alacrity from seven in the morning till seven in the evening daily,
the dinner being prepared on the ice, and eaten under the lee of a
studding sail erected as a tent.

On the afternoon of the 19th, a very welcome stop was put to our
operations by the separation of the floe entirely across the harbour,
and about one third from the ships to where we were at work. All hands
being instantly recalled by signal, were, on their return, set to work
to get the ships into the gravelled canal, and to saw away what still
remained in it to prevent our warping to sea. This work, with only half
an hour's intermission for the men's supper, was continued till half
past six the following morning, when we succeeded in getting clear. The
weather being calm, two hours were occupied in towing the ships to sea,
and thus the officers and men were employed at a very laborious work for
twenty-six hours, during which time there were, on one occasion, fifteen
of them overboard at once; and, indeed, several individuals met with the
same accident three times. It was impossible, however, to regret the
necessity of these comparatively trifling exertions, especially as it
was now evident that to saw our way out without any canal would have
required at least a fortnight of heavy and fatiguing labour.

CHAPTER V.

Sail over towards the Western Coast of Prince Regent's
Inlet.--Stopped by the Ice.--Reach the Shore about Cape
Seppings.--Favourable Progress along the Land.--Fresh and repeated
Obstructions from Ice.--Both Ships driven on Shore.--Fury seriously
damaged.--Unsuccessful Search for a Harbour for heaving her down to
repair.

_July_ 20.--On standing out to sea, we sailed, with a light southerly
wind, towards the western shore of Prince Regent's Inlet, which it was
my first wish to gain, on account of