continued sea, and possibly also in
part by the masses being moved somewhat in shore, that we were obliged
to occupy several hours in putting them to rights, as we should soon
require all our strength at the purchases. One berg also had, at the
last low water, fallen over on its side, in consequence of its
substance being undermined by the sea, and the cable surrounding it
was thus forced so low under water as no longer to afford protection
from the ice should it again come in. In tightening the cables, we
found it to have the effect of bringing the bergs in towards the
shore, still further contracting our narrow basin; but anything was
better than suffering them to go adrift.

'This work being finished at ten P.M., the people were allowed three
hours' rest only, it being necessary to heave the ship down at, or
near, high water, as there was not sufficient depth to allow her to
take her distance at any other time of tide. Every preparation being
made, at three A.M., on the 18th, we began to heave her down on the
larboard side; but when the purchases were nearly a-block, we found
that the strops under the Hecla's bottom, as well as some of the
Fury's shore-fasts, had stretched or yielded so much, that they could
bring the keel out of water within three or four feet. We immediately
eased her up again, and re-adjusted everything as requisite, hauling
her further in shore than before by keeping a considerable keel upon
her, so as to make less depth of water necessary; and we were then in
the act of once more heaving her down, when a snow storm came on, and
blew with such violence off the land, as to raise a considerable sea.
The ships had now so much motion as to strain the gear very much, and
even to make the lower mast of the Fury bend in spite of the shores.
We were, therefore, most unwillingly compelled to desist until the
sea should go down, keeping everything ready to recommence the instant
we could possibly do so with safety. The officers and men were now
literally so harassed and fatigued as to be scarcely capable of
further exertion without some rest; and on this and one or two other
occasions, I noticed more than a single instance of stupor amounting
to a certain degree of failure in intellect, rendering the individual
so affected quite unable at first to comprehend the meaning of an
order, though still as willing as ever to obey it. It was, therefore,
perhaps, a fortunate necessity which produced the intermission