IX.] DRIFTING WITH THE ICE. 189 of endeavouring to get further to the westward. The two ships' companies were therefore set to work, at five in the morning, with the ice saws to cut a passage in that direction, through which the ships might be warped. It was a laborious task, for the ice was in many places twelve feet in thickness. They continued at work, however, the entire day, but without gaining any great success, only managing with their utmost efforts to move the ships about three hundred yards in the required direction. Whilst so employed they found that the ships, together with the ice that surrounded them, had been driven far to the N.E., and E., by the current, which had also drifted the loose ice from the westward between the islands, where it packed and became as firm as the main body. The 4th was an uneventful day, bringing with it no chances of release. At one time their hopes were kindled by a light breeze springing up from the eastward, but it soon died away without having effected anything favourable to their situation. 190 IMMEDIATE ACTION NECESSARY. [CHAP. Towards the end of the day the wind sprang up from the N.W., accompanied by a very dense fog, and they drove rapidly to the eastward. The probability of releasing the ships appearing every hour to decrease, the season being considerably advanced, it was necessary to determine upon some immediate action in order to ensure the preservation of the people. The first thing to be considered was the state of the ice to the westward, and as an examination of this could only be done from some high position, Captain Phipps gave directions to Mr. Walden, one of the midshipmen, to take with him the two ice-pilots, and walk to an island about 12 miles off, so as to report if any open water could from there be seen. They started on the afternoon of the 5th, returning on board the following morning, having walked 8 hours over the ice. They reported having seen open water towards Black Point,' but it was at a considerable distance. 1 Now called North Cape; the most northern point of Spitzbergen. Ix.] THE SITUATION CRITICAL. 191 from the ship. They also said that when upon the island (which was subsequently named after Mr. Walden), they experienced a fresh easterly wind, although in the vicinity of the ships it had been calm all day. This latter report acted their spirits, for it con as a great damper on siderably lessened the hopes they had, until then, indulged in, that an easterly wind would speedily effect their extrication. Only two alternatives now offered. One was to wait patiently, trusting to the weather and the chapter of accidents to release them ; and the other was to abandon the vessels, and betake themselves to the boats. The ships were driving fast towards shoal ground and rocks. Should they strike, they would be immediately crushed by the ice, or, what was more probable, overset. In order to avoid the melancholy prospect of wintering in such an inclement region, Captain Phipps gave orders to equip the boats for immediate service, having previously summoned all the officers to his presence and informed 192 PREPARE TO ABANDON SHIPS. [CHAP. them of his probable intention of abandoning both ships. The hopes, however, of effecting their release were not abandoned, nor did they intend relinquishing them until all other means of retreat were cut off, but the preparations for the equipment of the boats were carried out with the greatest alacrity. Eighty small bags, made of canvas, each capable of containing about twentyfive pounds of bread, were hurriedly made to be carried in the boats. Two hundred pieces of beef were cooked, and placed in readiness for any sudden emergency. One of the studding sails was cut up in order to make belts for the men to drag with, whilst the gunwales of the boats were raised by fixing light stanchions on the top, round which was secured a broad strip cut from a tarpaulin. Whilst in the midst of these preparations, the Carcass was forced on board the Racehorse by the great pressure of the ice, carrying away her bumpkin, besides doing other less important damage. So great was the pressure of IX.] THEIR SITUATION REVIEWED. 193 the pack, that it required no little exertion, on the part of the two ships' companies, to separate and re-secure the vessels. As they were all drifting in one solid mass with the pack, men were stationed to the northward and also to the eastward, to sound with a lead and line, wherever cracks could be found in the ice, in order to give timely warning of the shoaling of the water. They could not disguise from themselves the extremely critical position in which they were placed. Without a harbour for the protection of their ships, it would have been utterly impossible to have passed the winter in the pack, with any hope of the vessels remaining in a serviceable condition for the ensuing navigable season. Even could this be done, their stock of provisions was not sufficient, except on a very reduced allowance, to sustain them until the following summer. Supposing even that they could reach the land, which however appeared impossible, and that they could make there some conveniences |