ng of the 15th, and still
continuing to blow strong, the ice was forced three or four miles off
the land in the course of a few hours, leaving us a quiet day for
continuing our work, but exciting no very pleasant sensations, when we
considered what progress we might have been making had we been at
liberty to pursue our object.

'The land was indeed so clear of ice to the southward, that Dr. Neill,
who walked a considerable distance in that direction, could see
nothing but an open channel in shore to the utmost extent of his view.
We took advantage of this open water to send the launch for the
Fury's ironwork, left at the former station; for though the few men
thus employed could very ill be spared, we were obliged to arrange
everything with reference to the ultimate saving of time; and it would
have occupied both ships' companies more than a whole day to carry the
things round by land.

'The Fury being completely cleared at an early hour on the 16th, we
were all busily employed in 'winding' the ship, and in preparing the
outriggers, shores, purchases, and additional rigging. Though we
purposely selected the time of high water for turning the ship round,
we had scarcely a foot of space for doing it, and indeed, as it was,
her fore-foot touched the ground; and loosened the broken part of the
wood so much as to enable us to pull it up with ropes, when we found
the fragments to consist of the whole of the gripe, and most of the
'cutwater.' The strong breeze continuing, and the sea rising as the
open water increased in extent, our bergs were sadly washed and
wasted; every hour producing a sensible and serious diminution in
their bulk. As, however, the main body of ice still kept off, we were
in hopes, now that our preparations were so near completed, we should
have been enabled in a few hours to see the extent of the damage, and
repair it sufficiently to allow us to proceed.

'In the evening we received the Fury's crew on board the Hecla, every
arrangement and regulation having been previously made for their
personal comfort, and for the preservation of cleanliness,
ventilation, and dry warmth throughout the ship. The officers of the
Fury, by their own choice, pitched a tent on shore for messing and
sleeping in, as our accommodation for two sets of officers was
necessarily confined. On the 17th, when every preparation was
completed, the cables were found again so slack, by the wasting of
the bergs, in consequence of the