52                     BUTCH AEOTIC  EXPEDITIONS.
mooring themselves to successive fragments, one of which rose like a steeple, being twenty fathoms above and twelve beneath the water. They saw around them more than four hundred large icebergs, the fear of which made them keep close to the shore, not being aware that in that quarter they were formed.
Steering on they came to Orange Island, which forms the northern extremity of Nova Zembla. Here ten men swam on shore, and, having mounted several piles of ice which rose, as it were, into a little mountain, they had the satisfaction of seeing the coast tending southward, and a wide open sea to the south-east. They hastened back to Barentz with these joyful tidings, and the success of the voyage was considered almost secure.
But these hopes were delusive. After doubling Cape Desire they were drawn into what they called Icy Port, and the vessel was thrown into a position almost perpendicular. From this critical attitude they were relieved next day; but fresh masses of ice continually increased the terrible ramparts around them.
The explorers now felt that they must bid adieu for this year to all hopes of escape from their icy prison. As the vessel was cracking continually, and opening in different quarters, they made no doubt of its going to pieces, and could hope to survive the winter only by constructing a hut, which might shelter them from the approaching rigor of the season. Parties sent into the country reported having seen footsteps of reindeer, also a river of fresh water, and, what was more important still, a great quantity of fine trees, with the roots still attached to them, strewed upon the shore, all brought down the rivers of Russia and Tartary.