270 PROGRESS ARRESTED BY THE PACK. \_May, 



In the distance, where several ranges of intrusive hum- 

 mocks interfered with the observations I wished to 

 obtain, I could perceive similar high, golden-tinted cliffs, 

 just showing like gems above the horizon, of a bright 

 flame-colour, but between them and the north land a 

 clear gap showed the distant and free horizon. As I 

 stood alone, all my party locked in sleep, I felt the 

 sullen grandeur of the scene, and looked forward, with 

 no common feeling of interest, to place the colours of our 

 Queen on those bright specks ! As to disturbing my 

 companions, it was useless ; they would soon see enough 

 of it, and possibly might not be over-grateful for breaking 

 in upon some pleasant dream of very different objects. 

 Within our grasp the accomplishment at least of this 

 qucBstio vexata appeared, to my anxious mind, certain ; 

 everything seemed to be in our favour, provision, men, 

 and high spirits ; I therefore went to my bag ! Our 

 latitude was to a second the same as that observed 

 under Cape Disraeli, making our course hither, due east, 

 thirty-six geographic miles. 



May 17. Temp. 22. About seven P.M. we moved 

 forward : I had a strong inclination to take the north- 

 ern shore, at all events until I could gain a good eleva- 

 tion from whence to see my way in advance.* Strange 

 impulse ! We had reached more than mid-channel, and 

 had lunched at the furthest limit on the floe from whence 

 I could command the stations on each side, as well as 

 the distant laud. Here we were arrested by an imprac- 

 ticable, heavy, and very high pack : our only resource 



* It was this station wliicli served to fix all the distant objects 

 easterly. 



