nd probably overset. The hopes of getting the ships out, however,
were not hastily to be relinquished; nor, on the other hand, obstinately
persisted in, till all other means of retreat were cut off. After a due
consideration of the various difficulties which presented themselves in
this perilous state, Captain Phipps thought it proper to send for the
officers of both ships, and to inform them of his intention to prepare
the boats for going away. They were, accordingly, hoisted out, and every
precaution taken to make them secure and comfortable; which, however,
would necessarily occupy some days. In the mean time, the water
shoaling, and the ships driving fast towards the north-east rocks, a man
was sent, with a lead and lines, from the Racehorse, to the northward,
and another, from the Carcass, to the eastward, to sound, wherever they
found cracks in the ice, that notice might be obtained before either the
ships, or the ice to which they were fast, took the ground; as, in that
case, they must, as before observed, instantly have been crushed or
overset.

On the 7th, in the morning, Captain Phipps set off in the launch, which
hauled much easier than was expected. After getting it about two miles,
he returned with the people for their dinner; and, finding the ice
rather more open near the ships, he was encouraged to attempt moving
them. The wind, though little, being easterly, they set the sails, and
got both ships about a mile to the westward. They moved, indeed, very
slowly; but were not, now, by a great deal, so far to the westward as
where they were beset. In the mean time, all the sail was kept on them,
that they might force through whenever the ice in the smallest degree
slacked. Though the people behaved very well in hauling the launches,
and seemed reconciled to the idea of quitting the ships, having the
fullest confidence in their officers; yet, as the boats could not, with
the greatest diligence, be got to the water-side in less than a week, it
was judiciously resolved to carry on both attempts together: moving the
boats constantly, but without omitting any opportunity of getting the
ships through.

On the 8th, Captain Phipps got his launch above three miles; but the
weather being foggy, and the people having worked hard, he returned on
board in the evening, and found the ships had moved something through
the ice, while the ice itself had drifted still more to the westward.

On the 9th, in a thick morning fog,