stant from us in the opposite direction; but,
before the ships could be moved by warps or any other means within
our power, the tide was observed to be setting her directly
between the island and the little yellow-looking rock I have
before mentioned as lying on its eastern side. The anchors were
kept ready to drop in an instant should the ship drive into shoal
water; had we grounded, and the heavy masses of ice continued to
drive upon us, little less than the total destruction of the ship
was to be apprehended. The natural direction of the stream,
however, effected for us that which, hampered as we were, our own
exertions must have failed in accomplishing; the ship drove
through, at the distance of one hundred yards from the rock and
about one hundred and forty from Passage Island, having no less
than twelve fathoms; and soon after deepened the water to
thirty-five and forty, and then to no bottom with ninety.

After this providential escape we lay-to within the island, in
order to drift to the northward and westward of it with the flood
tide, which runs stronger here than in any other part of the
Frozen Strait. The night was fine, but extremely dark, so that
after ten o'clock we could not distinguish where the land lay, and
the compasses could not be depended on. After an ineffectual
attempt to push through the ice towards the middle of the Strait,
in order to avoid the danger of being entangled among the numerous
islands lying off this shore, we were literally obliged to let the
ship take her chance, keeping the lead going and the anchors in
readiness.

The Hecla having got clear of the ice the preceding evening, and
narrowly escaped an adventure similar to that which we had
experienced, rejoined us early in the morning, when Captain Lyon
returned to her to prepare a boat for his intended excursion. We
then stood in under all sail for the land, and at eleven A.M.
Captain Lyon left the Hecla, while the ships tacked off and on to
await his return. At nine P.M. Captain Lyon returned, acquainting
me that he had met with a small bay having no stream of tide, and
being at present clear of ice, he thought it might answer our
purpose, but he wished me to see it before the ships were taken
in.

A boat from each ship being prepared, Captain Lyon and myself left
the cove at three P.M. to proceed on the proposed examination. We
separated at Point Cheyne, Captain Lyon having pointed out to me
the broad eastern channel from