624 A HUGE BLADDERNOSE. 



lived to see it The sun shines very powerfully ! at least 

 I think so. 10 degrees to 12 degrees below zero. Joe 

 caught two seals to-day." 



They now were in a better state as regarded food, as 

 geals were secured almost daily. 



On the night of March 30th there was a terrific gale, 

 and a huge iceberg within ten or twelve yards of the hut, 

 and grinding against the floe, threatened the ice-raft with 

 total destruction, in which case certain death awaited all. 

 The men, however, succeeded in launching the boat, and 

 awaited the anticipated doom, but the floe, although 

 reduced again in size, was saved. A huge "bladdernose" 

 and her pup got on one end of the floe, and when 

 approached, she showed fight, but was fortunately shot 

 and secured. A considerable amount of milk was obtained 

 from her, and that night the men had some excellent soup, 

 and also some good sausage made from the bear that had 

 been previously shot. On March 31st an observation 

 made by Mr. Meyer showed that for the previous five 

 days the party had drifted 23 miles "per day. The ice- 

 raft was steadily getting smaller and smaller, to the great 

 fear of the party, and it seemed as though the voyagers 

 were drifting out into the open ocean. They were nearly 

 off Cape Farewell, and a very heavy sea had the effect 

 of driving off all vestiges of ice from the vicinity of their 

 floe for the time being ; the morning brought much of it 

 back. 



The strong wind and rough sea made their position on 

 the ice critical, and yet rendered it impossible to take to 

 the boat ; as Herron says, their only course was to " watch 

 and wait, and trust in God." They were still catching 

 seals and their calves from the floes passing them. "We 

 lei the diary speak for the 1st and 2d of April : 



'' 'April 1. Wind northwest. A fearful night last night. 

 Cannot stav on our floe; must leave it at once. Got 



/ ' 



under way at eight A. y the boat taking in water. 



