452 DEATH OF BELLOT. 



Cape Grinnell. Near this it was desirable to encamp 

 in-sliore, if possible. 



On arriving at the cape, it was found that there was 

 a broad belt of water between the ice and the shore. 

 This would have been a matter of little moment, had 

 there been no wind, as they could have easily crossed 

 it in the boat ; but there was unfortunately a strong 

 breeze blowing from the south-east, which curled up the 

 surface of the cold black waves in a very ominous way. 

 There was no help, however ; so the boat was launched, 

 and Bellot endeavored to reach the shore in it alone, 

 intending to convey a line by which the remainder of 

 the party and the provisions might be dragged over. 

 In this attempt he failed, the violence of the gale being 

 too much for him ; he therefore returned to the ice, 

 arid ordered Harvey and Madden to get in and attempt 

 the passage together. This they did, and were suc- 

 cessful in landing ; after which they began the opera- 

 tion of passing and repassing the boat between the ice 

 and the shore, by means of lines. In this way three 

 loads were landed from the sledge, and the party on the 

 ice were hauling the boat off for a fourth, when Mad- 

 den, who had hold of the shore-line, and was up to his 

 middle in the water, called out suddenly that the ice 

 was on the move, and driving off shore. It was evi- 

 dent that he could riot hold the line longer without 

 being dragged into deep water ; so Bellot called out to 

 him to let go, which he did. 



Bellot and his two men then hauled the boat on to 

 the sledge, and ran it up to the windward side of the 

 ice, intending to launch it there and make for the shore. 

 Ere this could be accomplished, however, the ice, whose 

 motion was rapidly increasing, had drifted so far from 

 the shore as to render all idea of reaching it hopeless. 

 It may be imagined with what feelings Madden and 



