ice. The cold was intense, and the darkness such that it was almost
impossible to distinguish one another upon deck; and the snow, falling
very thick, was driven against their faces by the wind, and froze upon
them as it fell.

There was no possibility of keeping up warmth and circulation in their
bodies, for the frozen snow and ice made the deck so slippery they
could scarcely stand, much less walk about quickly, and all they could
do was, to try to screen themselves as much as possible from the
pitiless blast. Thus the night was spent in anxious fears for the
future, and dread of immediate destruction. But morning came at last,
though with little comfort to the sufferers, for the wind had
increased, the ice was up to the cabin windows, the stern-post was
found to be broken in two, and the ship otherwise seriously damaged.

In this state they could not long remain. Mr. Grenville and some of
the officers proposed to Captain Wallis that the crew should make an
attempt to get over the ice to Newark Island, as the only means of
preserving their lives.[4] At first, Captain Wallis was inclined to
reject the proposal; he saw all the danger attending such an attempt;
and it appeared to him, that they could scarcely expect to succeed in
crossing the ice through a dense fog and heavy snow-storm, without any
knowledge of the way, without a guide, and exhausted as they were by
mental and bodily suffering, and benumbed with cold.

On the other hand, he confessed that the plan presented a hope of
safety, and that it was their only hope. The ship's company were
unanimous in wishing to adopt it, and therefore Captain Wallis finally
consented.