104 EXMOUTH ISLAND. \_Auytlst, 



The heavy blanket overlying me, and the difficulty re- 

 sulting from the general move of my bedfellows to extri- 

 cate themselves, prevented my reaching my post, per- 

 haps, as deliberately as etiquette might demand; but I 

 found my gun in hand, and the enemy in front, quite in 

 time for action. The clear light which prevailed enabled 

 me to see the eyes and black-tipped nose within about 

 three yards of the muzzle of the piece, and one ball in 

 the mouth and through the head was, I thought, quite 

 enough to expend ; and believing it impossible for the 

 victim to escape, I did not fire the second. She moved 

 away, spouting blood, and doubtless died. Some of our 

 people tracked her for a short distance, but were soon 

 recalled ; we had already more than we could conveni- 

 ently carry, although bear's-grease is with us quite as 

 important as to our friends at home. After flinching 

 this from the skin, the latter became a very useful pad 

 between our ribs and the ice. 



About eight we recommenced our journey, determined 

 to use every effort to reach our red-tinted island before 

 encamping tonight. A similar set of experiments on 

 marching, with a little more attention to the periods of 

 rest, afforded two miles* per hour with less fatigue. By 

 two we arrived at the floe-edge, and found open water 

 leading up to the island. Launching the ' Hamilton,' 

 we effected our landing under oars alone, in less than 

 two hours. 



August 27. This island, viewed at a distance of fif- 

 teen miles, presented, from its slopes being composed of 

 red sandstone, a very cheering aspect, and was at first 



All distances reckoner! in Ihis narrative are geographic miles. 



