50 LOSE TWO DOGS. \JlHte, 



towards the island. The 'Pioneer' was immediately put 

 into requisition, and, having got her steam up, towed 

 the whole Squadron into deeper water. 



Had it not been for this unfortunate interference, I 

 should have landed, and obtained observations, to fix 

 some of the other objects in sight, as well as sought for 

 the eggs of eider-ducks, said to abound here. I was only 

 able, on a moving piece of ice, to obtain the latitude, 

 which placed us in 74 7' N., the Devil's Thumb bear- 

 ing north-east fifteen miles ; shortly before midnight, the 

 ship was secured to the floe. 



About noon on the 24th, the steamers having now 

 become indispensable, they towed the vessels through a 

 lead until eight P.M., when we secured for the night, or 

 rather to afford the crew rest, for it is almost an absur- 

 dity to talk of nights during the summer in these high 

 latitudes. "Midnight" however becomes a term of time; 

 and at this horn- a large berg, in rapid motion towards 

 us, compelled us to again resort to our steamers, which 

 towed us sufficiently out of its way, but unfortunately 

 with the loss of two dogs, which, not yet sufficiently fa- 

 miliar to their new masters, and possibly over-fed, pre- 

 ferred amusing themselves on the ice to rejoining their 

 ships. A boat and parties were sent to recover them, 

 but without success. They were again seen on the floe- 

 edge the following day, and the boat sent to endeavour 

 to take them, but although food was taken to entice 

 them, still with no better success; starvation, or the 

 gripe of some hungry bear, would probably very soon be 

 their fate ! Little as we knew these poor animals, still 

 their loss was perceptibly felt. 



