d, and
the snow driving about in the air, deprived the travellers almost of
the power of hearing and seeing any thing distinctly. To make the land
at any risk, was now the only hope left, but it was with the utmost
difficulty, that the frightened dogs could be forced forward--the
whole body of ice sinking frequently below the surface of the rocks,
then rising above it. As the only moment to land was that when it
gained the level of the coast, the attempt was extremely nice and
hazardous. However, by God's mercy, it succeeded; both sledges gained
the shore, and were drawn up the beach with much difficulty.

"The travellers had hardly time to reflect with gratitude to God on
their safety, when that part of the ice from which they had just made
good their landing, burst asunder, and the water, forcing itself from
below, covered and precipitated it into the sea. In an instant, as if
by a signal given, the whole mass of ice, extending for several miles
from the coast, and as far as the eye could reach, began to burst and
to be overwhelmed by the immense waves. The sight was tremendous, and
awfully grand--the large fields of ice, raising themselves out of the
water, striking against each other, and plunging into the deep with a
violence not to be described, and a noise like the discharge of
innumerable batteries of heavy guns. The darkness of the night, the
roaring of the wind and sea, and the dashing of the waves and ice
against the rocks, filled the travellers with sensations of awe and
horror, as almost to deprive them of the power of utterance. They
stood overwhelmed with astonishment at their miraculous escape, and
even the heathen Esquimaux expressed gratitude to God for their
deliverance.

"The Esquimaux now began to build a snow-house, about thirty paces
from the beach; but before they had finished their work, the waves
reached the place where the sledges were secured, and they were with
difficulty saved from being washed into the sea.

"About 9 o'clock all of them crept into the snow-house, thanking God
for this place of refuge; for the wind was piercingly cold, and so
violent, that it required great strength to be able to stand against
it.

"Before they entered their habitation, they could not help once more
turning to the sea, which was now free from ice, and beheld with
horror, mingled with gratitude for their safety, the enormous waves
driving furiously before the wind, like huge castles, and approaching
th