24 CRITICAL CONDITION. \_0ctober, 



ed, which the prevention of confusion or our limited force 

 enabled us to " do well." The awnings could not have 

 been removed without our entire force ; and calculating 

 on their present smooth and inclined surfaces, I consi- 

 dered that the wind would have infinitely greater force 

 on the unequal surfaces of boats and other objects ex- 

 posed to its action. I therefore determined to keep that 

 close, to prevent any ingress of wind, and I much re- 

 gretted having disturbed the bow housing, for the diffi- 

 culty and confusion it created was manifest. Power was 

 to be husbanded ; it required too many men. If the ship 

 broke out before the deck load was stowed below, I 

 must confess that I feared the result ! Axes as well as 

 saws were in readiness to fell the masts : but they were 

 of teak. 



Few of those who possibly may read this (if it ever 

 reaches ?) will conceive that anything selected to Carry a 

 pendant and to encounter Polar navigation could be so 

 unseaworthy ; yet just at this moment the croakers in- 

 formed us that "her former skipper came down to Wool- 

 Avich, to see her turn the turtle," and that he was nearly 

 gratified ; but we had embarked fifteen tons of ballast at 

 winter-quarters, had on board twenty-eight tons of water 

 and forty-six tons of coal, all stowed low, together with 

 stores and provisions for two years ! Yet her situation, 

 even thus prepared, was one of extreme doubt and dan- 

 ger ! I cannot really say I felt so sure of the latter ex- 

 pression ; if the anchors held and she rode fairly, head 

 to wind, there was no danger, so long as they availed us ! 

 If driven from them into the pack, Avhy then we must 

 take our chance. In this condition, with our hatches 



