374 RETURN TO THE SHIP. 



mirig bowls of hot, strong chocolate to the success of 

 their expedition. 



On Wednesday, the 22d of October, their prepara 

 tions being completed, a paper was deposited in the 

 cylinder, containing an account of their proceedings, 

 and they commenced their journey to Batty Bay. 



A strong sledge had been made, on which the boat 

 was placed ; then all their goods and provisions, etc. 

 had been securely stowed away in the latter, and haule 

 down to the ice on Leopold Harbor, which stretched out 

 a smooth and level plain before them. The mast was 

 then erected, the sails set, and, the whole party jumping 

 in, away they went over the bay before a spanking 

 breeze, at a rate that was quite marvellous. But, just 

 as they got about half-way across the bay, the sledge 

 broke down, leaving them to repair damages for the 

 remainder of the day. Night overtook them ere they 

 could gain the land ; and, as it was not desirable to sleep 

 on the frozen sea, they were obliged to make their way 

 on in the dark, which was rendered, if possible, still 

 more palpable by a heavy fall of snow. After much 

 stumbling into crevices and cracks, frequent wanderings 

 about they knew not where, and occasional dashings of 

 the shins upon sharp pieces of projecting ice, a small 

 bit of solid land was found in the shape of a flat lime- 

 stone rock, surrounded by large masses of stranded ice. 

 Here they erected a tent, and with some coals which 

 had been brought from Whaler Point boiled a large 

 kettle of tea, and enjoyed themselves exceedingly after 

 the fatiguing and protracted march of the day. 



But they experienced some embarrassment in dispos- 

 ing themselves to rest. The tent was small, and the 

 party numbered thirteen. Six sat down on one side, 

 and six on the other, by which they managed to have 

 three feet of space for stretching their legs. 



