38 BARENTZ. 



captain, frightened and confused, could not fix the bar 

 of wood which usually constituted the fastening, but they 

 contrived to hold the door home so fast that the animal 

 could not enter, and it then walked away. The creature 

 soon returned again, roaring around the hut, to the great 

 terror of the inmates ; at last it got on the roof, which 

 they feared it would have broken, being quite furious. 

 A sail hoisted on the outside of the hut the bear tore 

 to pieces in his anger. No other injury ensued. 



The sea began to open, as early as the middle of 

 March, to within seventy-five paces of the ship ; though 

 a new frost came on, and increased the distance to five 

 hundred on the 4th of May. They did not wait to 

 see whether their vessel might again be serviceable. 

 They preferred the chance of going in their boats, and 

 of venturing in them to cross a sea three or four hundred 

 leagues rather than to trust an uncertain event. 



They now set about preparations for departure. They 

 repaired their two boats, and had good hope " to get 

 out of that wilde, desart, irkesome, fearfull, and cold 

 countrey." On the 13th of June the survivors, 

 twelve in number, left the desolate shore, after a stay of 

 ten months. Their privations and exposures in small 

 boats, in an ice-encumbered sea, may be imagined. 

 Three of them perished, worn out with disease. The 

 indefatigable Barentz himself at last succumbed. They 

 had passed Icy Cape two days before. This cape is a 

 headland in Nova Zembla in the Arctic Ocean. It is in 

 lat. 75 N. ; Ion. 70 E. ; a bleak and lofty promon- 

 tory. 



As they were approaching this cape, Barentz asked 

 if they had yet reached it ; and, on being told it was in 

 sight, requested he might be lifted up to see it once 

 more, the ruling passion of this adventurous seaman 

 being strong in death. About nine o'clock on the 



