, the wind
still blowing with unabated violence, and with every appearance of a
continuance of stormy weather. Under these circumstances, it was the
general opinion of the officers, as well as my own, that it was
advisable to take advantage of the comparatively smooth water within the
stream of ice, and to run the ship into the pack, rather than incur the
risk of having to do the same thing in a heavy sea. This plan succeeded
remarkably well; a tolerably smooth and open part of the margin being
selected, the ship was forced into it at three A.M., when, after
encountering a few severe blows from the heavy washed pieces which
always occur near the sea-edge, she was gradually carried onward under
all sail, and at four A.M. we got into a perfectly smooth and secure
situation, half a mile within the margin of a "pack."

It was impossible not to consider ourselves highly fortunate in having
thus early, and with no great difficulty, succeeded in reaching the
highest latitude to which it was our object to take the ship. But, from
what we had already seen at Smerenburg, it was also impossible not to
feel much anxiety as to the prospect of getting her into any secure
harbour before the proper time of my departure to the northward should
arrive. However, we could only wait patiently for the result of a few
more days; and, in the mean time, everybody was busily employed in
completing the arrangements for our departure, so that, if an
opportunity did offer of securing the ship, we might have nothing else
to attend to. Our deer were in good order, having been thriving well
ever since they came on board; they make excellent sailors, and do not
seem to mind bad weather, always lying down quite comfortable whenever
there is any sea.

In order to try what our chances were, at the present low temperature,
of procuring water upon the ice without expense of fuel, we laid a black
painted canvass cloth, and also a piece of black felt, upon the surface
of the snow; the temperature of the atmosphere being from 18 deg. to 23
deg. These substances had, in a couple of hours, sunk half an inch into
the snow, but no water could be collected. I was desirous, also, of
ascertaining whether any part of the real sea-ice was so entirely fresh
when melted as to be drunk without injury or inconvenience. For this
purpose we cut a block of ice from a large hummock, about ten feet high
above the sea; and having broken, pounded, and melted it, without any
pre