DK KANE'S EXPEDITION. 



507 



but upon the parallel of 78 24', where Cape Isabella 

 bears due west of Littleton Island, and the diameter of 



THE FORLORN HOPE EQUIPPED. 



the channel is reduced to thirty-seven miles. Hence, 

 they passed from the straits into the open seaway. At 

 this time a gale broke upon them from the north, and 

 they were exposed to all its fury in the open whale-boat. 

 They were glad to drive before the wind into the in-shore 

 floes. The pack, so much feared before, was now looked 

 to as a refuge. 



Working their way through the broken pack, they 

 reached Hakluyt Island on the 23d of July, where they 

 rested a while and dried their buffalo-robes. The next 

 morning they renewed their labors, but were arrested 

 by the pack off Northumberland Island. For four days 

 they made strenuous efforts to work through the half- 

 open leads, but in vain ; they had reached the dividing 

 pack of the two great open waters of Baffin's Bay, and 

 which Dr. Kane considered to be made up of the ices 

 which Jones's Sound on the west, and Murchison's on 

 the east, had discharged and driven together. Under 

 these circumstances, they were obliged to return to 

 Northumberland Island, which they found to be one 

 enormous homestead of auks, dovekies, and gulls, and 



