ng proved
most opportune.

CHAPTER VI.

Formation of a Basin for heaving the Fury down.--Landing of the
Fury's Stores, and other Preparations.--The Ships secured within
the Basin.--Impediments from the Pressure of the Ice.--Fury hove
down.--Securities of the Basin destroyed by a Gale of
Wind.--Preparations to tow the Fury out.--Hecla Re-equipped, and
obliged to put to Sea.--Fury again driven on Shore.--Rejoin the
Fury; and find it necessary finally to abandon her.

As there was now no longer room for floating the ice out of the proposed
basin, all hands were immediately employed in preparing the intended
securities against the incursions of the ice. These consisted of anchors
carried to the beach, having bower-cables attached to them, passing
quite round the grounded masses, and thus enclosing a small space of
just sufficient size to admit both ships. The cables we proposed
floating by means of the two hand-masts and some empty casks lashed to
them as buoys, with the intention of thus making them receive the
pressure of the ice a foot or two below the surface of the water. By
uncommon exertions on the part of the officers and men, this laborious
work was completed before night as far as was practicable until the
loose ice should set out; and all the tents were set up on the beach for
the reception of the Fury's stores.

The ice remaining quite close on the 6th, every individual in both
ships, with the exception of those at the pumps, was employed in landing
provisions from the Fury, together with the spars, boats, and everything
from off her upper deck. On the following day, the ice remaining as
before, the work was continued without intermission, and a great
quantity of things landed. The armorer was also set to work on the beach
in forging bolts for the martingales of the outriggers. In short, every
living creature among us was somehow or other employed, not even
excepting our dogs, which were set to drag up the stores on the beach;
so that our little dock-yard soon exhibited the most animated scene
imaginable. The Fury was thus so much lightened in the course of the
day, that two pumps were now nearly sufficient to keep her free, and
this number continued requisite until she was hove down.

At night, just as the people were going to rest, the ice began to move
to the southward, and soon after came in towards the shore, pressing the
Fury over on her side to so