CHAP. XI.

SLOW PROGRESS THROUGH THE ICE. A WARM DAY. CAPTAIN AUSTIN'S VESSELS SEEN. NUMBER OF SEALS. FEW BIRDS. BESET. THE ESQUIMAUX "ADAM.". EFFECTS OF REFRACTION.

OMINOUS PREPARATIONS.

THE "FELIX" SQUEEZED BETWEEN TWO FLOES. LUCKY

Wednesday 24th. — AT six A. M. of this day, after all night working to windward, we had to make fast to the floe, there being no more open water for us ahead. At noon, however, the ice broke away again, and we began our usual tracking and heaving the ship through into clear water. The weather was beautiful, a light breeze and cloudless sky, until one P.M.; when symptoms of a fog presented themselves, and we hove to, for the "Felix" to come up to us. It cleared again, and away we went through the remainder of the day, tracking, towing, and beating to windward, gaining, perhaps, in a direct course some five or six miles out of the twenty or thirty we run over; so many turnings and twistings had we to take to get along at all. We forced through some narrow passages, and

then came into a "hole" of water of some extent, but from the reappearance of fog to windward we thought it unadvisable to keep too far ahead of our consort, and accordingly up helm and run back to her. Afterwards we kept close together until midnight, when, the ice being unbroken any further, we made fast again.

Thursday 25th. This was a perfectly warm day, indeed too warm. The thermometer in the sun at three P. M. was 72°, and the glare and heat together made it anything but pleasant on the ice. It affected my eyes so much that I began to think of my snow spectacles. Indeed, I found that so much looking out from both below and aloft was weakening my sight; for I was up in the crow's nest as often during each day, and night too, as I possibly could. The day, as I before observed, was very warm: it was also clear and calm. Very little was done throughout it. Some small channels of water were observed on our starboard hand, and it having been reported from the mast-head that more vessels (presumed to be Captain Austin's) were in sight to the northward, the "Felix" began to warp away and make sail, the Prince Albert, shortly afterwards, doing the same. But at half-past two P. M. we had to make fast again, having gone not above three or four miles. The "Felix," being allowed to keep

THE ESQUIMAUX

ADAM."

137

ahead of us this time, got into a different "lane" of water from ours, and we were therefore separated to some distance from each other when we made fast.

A great number of seals were observed to-day playing about; but birds of any kind were scarce. A "snow-bunting" was, however, shot and brought on board to be stuffed for the Commander.

Friday 25th.- This day was fine and clear, but not so warm as the preceding. The ice continued firmly set, and no movement could be possibly effected. Communication between the two vessels was kept up by a walk across the large floe that separated us; and, the men being allowed to amuse themselves as best they could, many were constantly going to and fro between ourselves and the "Felix." We had a great deal of the company of Sir John Ross's Esquimaux Adam on board of us, where he was a general favourite among the men, for his really very good performance on the violin, and his amiable disposition. He had a great habit of going aloft and sitting on the foreyard, where he would play several tunes for, perhaps, nearly an hour. Occasionally, he would paddle about in his kayack, and several times evinced his skill in throwing the spear for practice, or in explaining how it was done. I became partial to him; and, I believe, he was also so to me.

Saturday 27th. This was a similar day to the last,

as regards wind and weather, and, I might say, progress too. Indeed, there seemed, at that time, very little hope of getting on; for every one who had been there before, stated, that the ice was more than usually bound in the bay this season, and the chances of getting through in anything like a reasonable time more than ever doubtful. The weather was, certainly, most beautiful; air cold, but sun occasionally very hot. The refraction so much spoken of I noticed then, and for some days previous, in a most extraordinary degree. The ice, and distant objects, presented, at times, singular and fantastic forms: churches, steeples, castles, houses, towns, &c., &c. The wide expanse of ice- almost unbroken, and uniformly flat except in a few places where a berg appeared-presented a most dazzling aspect. I had been advised to get ready a bag of clothes, &c. (an ominous preparation), and to keep it at hand in the event of having, suddenly, to jump clear of the ship on to the ice. I had not yet done so, though some of the men had; and provisions for a similar purpose had been placed on deck. But the ensuing night it might be needed. When I retired at eleven we were fast to the ice, waiting for an opening. One presented itself at twelve, and, it appears, the " Felix" took the lead. I was suddenly aroused at a quarter to one, and told that our consort had got squeezed, owing

to the ice suddenly closing upon her, and that we had only saved ourselves by instantly letting go the trackrope and hauling astern. I ran on deck, where Captain Forsyth was already busy securing the vessel in safety. The "Felix," we found, was unhurt; but her large boat, the "Mary," had been lifted up and thrown on the ice under the ship's counter, causing some damage to her bulwarks. I soon went below, but before going to sleep again bundled some clothes into a bag, which I, afterwards, repacked, and always kept close to my bedside, with a long lanyard to lay hold of and pull up with me, in case I needed to take refuge, not on shore, but on, what is always a sure refuge in such cases, the ice itself. As Dr. Scoresby, in his late work on the subject of relief to Sir John Franklin, most truly observes, "the ice which works the mischief offers the means of escape from the present danger."

Sunday 28th.-All this day we were fast to the ice, unable to move. A smart breeze from the eastward was blowing, with fine weather. Divine service performed as usual.

Towards evening, however, the barometer, which had been falling fast all day, indicated a gale; and, about eleven P. M., every symptom of it was discernible. The wind was freshening up from the dreaded quarter (S. W.), and the narrow space of