maux remarked, that there was a swell under the ice. It was then
hardly perceptible, except on applying the ear close to the ice, when a
hollow grating and roaring noise was heard. The weather remained clear,
and no sudden change was expected. But the motion of the sea under the
ice had grown so perceptible as rather to alarm our travellers, and they
began to think it prudent to keep closer to the shore. The ice in many
places had fissures and cracks, some of which formed chasms of one or
two feet wide; but as they are not uncommon, and the dogs easily leap
over them, the sledge following without danger, they are terrible only
to new comers.

As soon as the sun declined, the wind increased and rose to a storm.
The snow was driven about by whirl winds, both on the ice and from off
the peaks of the high mountains, and filled the air. At the same time
the swell had increased so much, that its effects upon the ice became
very extraordinary and alarming. The sledges, instead of gliding along
smoothly upon an even surface, sometimes ran with violence after the
dogs, and shortly after seemed with difficulty to ascend the rising
hill; for the elasticity of so vast a body of ice, of many leagues
square, supported by a troubled sea, though in some places three or four
yards in thickness, would, in some degree, occasion a motion not unlike
that of a sheet of paper upon the surface of a rippling stream. Noises
were now likewise heard in many directions, like the report of cannon,
owing to the bursting of the ice at some distance.

The Esquimaux drove with all haste towards the shore, as it plainly
appeared the ice would break and disperse in the open sea. When the
sledges approached the coast, the prospect before them was truly
terrific. The ice, having broken loose from the rocks, was forced up
and down, grinding and breaking into a thousand pieces against the
precipices, with a tremendous noise, which, added to the raging of
the wind, and the snow driving about in the air, nearly deprived the
travellers 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 the frighted dogs could be forced forward,
the whole body of the ice sinking frequently below the rocks, then
rising above them. As the only moment to land was that when the ice
gained the level of the shore, the attempt was extremely nice and
hazardous. However, by God's mercy