vessels started in the night, in an
indifferent and cross lead, we towing the "Resolute" and "Lady
Franklin,"--the "Intrepid," with "Assistance" and "Sophia," astern.
Breaking through two light barriers of ice, the prospect was improving;
and, as they said from the "crow's nest," that eight miles of water was
beyond a neck of ice ahead, I cast off the vessel in tow to charge the
ice; at first she did well, but the floe was nearly six feet thick,
hard and sound, and a pressure on it besides. The "Pioneer" was again
caught, and the squadron anchored to the floe to await an opening. A
few hours afterwards we were liberated, and, moving the vessel as far
astern as we could, the fact was duly reported to the senior officer;
but, as the road ahead was not open, no change of position could be
made. On the morning of the 20th we were again beset, and a south gale
threatened to increase the pressure; escape was, however, impossible,
and "Fear not, but trust in Providence" is a necessary motto for Arctic
seamen. My faith in this axiom was soon put to the proof. After a short
sleep I was called on deck, as the vessel was suffering from great
pressure. My own senses soon made it evident; every timber and plank
was cracking and groaning, the vessel was thrown considerably over on
her side, and lifted bodily, the bulkheads cracking, and treenails and
bolts breaking with small reports. On reaching the deck, I saw indeed
that the poor "Pioneer" was in sad peril; the deck was arching with the
pressure on her sides, the scupper-pieces were turning up out of the
mortices, and a quiver of agony wrung my craft's frame from stem to
taffrail, whilst the floe, as if impatient to overwhelm its victim, had
piled up as high as the bulwark in many places.

The men who, whaler-fashion, had, without orders I afterwards learnt,
brought their clothes on deck, ready to save their little property,
stood in knots, waiting for directions from the officers, who, with
anxious eye, watched the floe-edge as its ground passed the side, to
see whether the strain was easing; suddenly it did so, and we were
safe! But a deep dent in the "Pioneer's" side, extending for some forty
feet, and the fact, as we afterwards learnt, of twenty-one timbers
being broken upon one side, proved that her trial had been a severe
one.

Again had the ice come in upon us from the S.W., and nothing but a
steady, watchful progress through the pack was left to our squadron, as
well as