remarked that, on the island, they had the wind very fresh to the
eastward, though it had been almost calm the whole time where the ships
lay. This circumstance considerably lessened the hopes, hitherto
entertained, of the immediate effect of an easterly wind in clearing the
bay. Having now only one alternative; either patiently to wait the event
of the weather on the ships, in hopes of getting them out, or to betake
themselves to the boats. The ships had at this time driven into shoal
water, having only fourteen fathom; and, should either the ships, or the
ice to which they were fast, take the ground, they must be inevitably
lost, and probably overset. The hopes of getting the ships out, however,
were not hastily to be relinquished; nor, on the other hand, obstinately
persisted in, till all other means of retreat were cut off. After a due
consideration of the various difficulties which presented themselves in
this perilous state, Captain Phipps thought it proper to send for the
officers of both ships, and to inform them of his intention to prepare
the boats for going away. They were, accordingly, hoisted out, and every
precaution taken to make them secure and comfortable; which, however,
would necessarily occupy some days. In the mean time, the water
shoaling, and the ships driving fast towards the north-east rocks, a man
was sent, with a lead and lines, from the Racehorse, to the northward,
and another, from the Carcass, to the eastward, to sound, wherever they
found cracks in the ice, that notice might be obtained before either the
ships, or the ice to which they were fast, took the ground; as, in that
case, they must, as before observed, instantly have been crushed or
overset.

On the 7th, in the morning, Captain Phipps set off in the launch, which
hauled much easier than was expected. After getting it about two miles,
he returned with the people for their dinner; and, finding the ice
rather more open near the ships, he was encouraged to attempt moving