them. The wind, though little, being easterly, they set the sails, and
got both ships about a mile to the westward. They moved, indeed, very
slowly; but were not, now, by a great deal, so far to the westward as
where they were beset. In the mean time, all the sail was kept on them,
that they might force through whenever the ice in the smallest degree
slacked. Though the people behaved very well in hauling the launches,
and seemed reconciled to the idea of quitting the ships, having the
fullest confidence in their officers; yet, as the boats could not, with
the greatest diligence, be got to the water-side in less than a week, it
was judiciously resolved to carry on both attempts together: moving the
boats constantly, but without omitting any opportunity of getting the
ships through.

On the 8th, Captain Phipps got his launch above three miles; but the
weather being foggy, and the people having worked hard, he returned on
board in the evening, and found the ships had moved something through
the ice, while the ice itself had drifted still more to the westward.

On the 9th, in a thick morning fog, they moved the ships a little
through some very small openings; and, in the afternoon, on it's
clearing up, were agreeably surprised to find the ships had driven much
more to the westward than they could have expected. Thus encouraged,
they laboured hard all day; but got very little to the westward, through
the ice, in comparison to what the ice itself had drifted. Having passed
the launches, a number of men were sent to get them on board. Though the
people were much fatigued, the progress which the ships had made through
the ice was a most favourable event; and, notwithstanding the drift of
the ice was an advantage which might be as suddenly lost as it had been
unexpectedly gained, by a change in the current, they began again to
indulge hopes that a brisk gale of easterly wind might soon effectually