About seven in the evening
Then an attempt was made to set the sails and beat up for the land ; but the rudder was almost unmanageable owing to the ice , and nothing could be made of it , so they were compelled to go right before the wind under close-reefed top-sails , in order to keep some command of the ship . All hands were on deck watching in silence the ice ahead of them , which presented a most formidable aspect . Away to the north the strait could be seen growing narrower , with heavy ice-tables grinding up and clogging it from cliff to cliff on either side . About seven in the evening they were close upon the piling masses , to enter into which seemed certain destruction . `` Stand by to let go the anchor ! '' cried the captain , in the desperate hope of being able to wind the ship . `` What 's that ahead of us ? ''