186 FLIGHT OF BIRDS NOTICED. \Jime, 



warded hither from the first class, and our weakly men, 

 who might be unable to move on any sudden emergency, 

 together with a change for every man in the ship, for- 

 warded to Beechey Island. We were thus prepared to 

 devote the combined energies of the Squadron to extri- 

 cate these vessels, nor did I dream of eventual failure. 



June 3. Ten-day temperatures afford, max. -j-40'50 ; 

 min. 9-00; mean, -f 24'26. 



About the 9th of June, birds, principally brent-geese, 

 eider-duck, and gulls, began to make their appearance 

 on their northern flight, and three ptarmigan and one 

 hare were forwarded by the Sergeant from Baring Ren- 

 dezvous. The ' Pioneer's' screw having been reported 

 as in danger, the necessary measures were adopted to re- 

 lease it from ice, when it was found to be uninjured. We 

 were now advancing steadily with our dock, and com- 

 menced reeving our heavy purchases to start the ship. 

 Direct force I doubted, and, to aid in effecting my object, 

 laid out a second at right angles on the port bow. The 

 Small Bower (Rodgers 5 ), on heaving a good strain, came 

 home clear, underneath the ice, and eventually reached 

 our bows again; both cable and anchor were well polished. 

 The Best Bower cable was still frozen in with the floe, 

 and, until the ship was free, that could not be recovered, 

 for in blasting and cutting over it they had broken the 

 buoy rope. 



At noon of the 13th a dog-sledge was reported, and 

 I went out to receive the visitor, which proved to be 

 Monsieur De Bray. My salutation was, " Well, you 

 bring me news of Collinson's safety?" " Yes, Sir, he is 

 safe ! and I have documents here for you," pointing to 



