DR. KANE'S FAMOUS ARCTIC VOYAGE 281 



the explorers could see the long lines of hummocks dividing the 

 floes like the trenches of a beleaguered city. Farther out, a stream 

 of icebergs, increasing in numbers towards the north, presented an 

 almost impenetrable barrier; but beyond these the ice seemed less 

 obstructed and obstructive, and patches of open water glimmered 

 on the distant horizon. 



On their return to the brig preparations were made for the 

 coming winter, which it was decided to pass in the secure haven 

 they had reached, since known as Rensselaer Harbor. By the loth 

 of September the thermometer had fallen to 14 degrees Fahrenheit 

 and the ice-floes had been welded into a compact mass by newly- 

 formed ice. About sixty paces north of the ship an iceberg had 

 been caught in the toils and remained as their gigantic neighbor as 

 long as they occupied that harbor. The long winter passed slowly 

 enough, with what alleviations they could find in their contracted 

 quarters and with such labor as seemed necessary in preparation for 

 the coming spring. 



The first traces of returning light were observed at noon on the 

 2 ist of January, when a tint of orange lighted up, very briefly, the 

 southern horizon. Necessarily, the influence of the long and intense 

 darkness was very depressing, and was felt even by the lower 

 animals, many of the dogs dying from "a mental disease," clearly 

 due to the absence of light. The symptoms of this disease were very 

 peculiar, and deserve to be indicated. The more material functions 

 of the poor creatures went on, it would appear, without interrup- 

 tion, they ate voraciously, retained their strength, and slept 

 soundly. But, otherwise, they acted as if suffering from lunacy. 

 They barked f renziedly at nothing, and walked in straight and 

 curved lines with anxious and unwearying perseverance. They 

 fawned on their masters, but without seeming conscious of the 

 caresses lavished upon them in return. Their most intelligent 

 actions seemed automatic; sometimes they clawed you, as if seeking 

 to burrow into your seal-skins ; sometimes they remained for hours 



