The frozen masses had been sinking into the floe.

Ice, though hard and solid to the touch, is never firm against heavy weights.

An article left on the floe for any length of time is likely to sink into the surface-ice.

Then the salt water will percolate through and the article will become frozen into the body of the floe.
Clear weather followed the gale, and we had a series of mock suns and parhelia.

Minus temperatures were the rule, 21ｰ below zero Fahr.