THE START FOR HOME. 601 



permit farther progress. Captain Buddington, however, 

 disappointed their hopes by sending them, early in July, 

 written orders to return immediately to the Polaris. The 

 shifting of the ice had closed up the channel by which 

 they had come, and Tyson and Chester were compelled to 

 leave the boats, and walk back ; this was a tedious, fatigu- 

 ing and even dangerous journey. But, after an absence 

 of six weeks, they at last got safely to Thank-God Harbor. 



During the absence of Tyson and Chester, the Polaris 

 had broken loose from her winter fastenings, and Budding- 

 ton tried to steam up northward to pick up the boats, but 

 the ice was too plenty and formidable. As soon as the 

 boat-party had returned, Buddington determined to steer 

 forthwith for the United States, and on the 12th of August, 

 1872, he proceeded to carry out this intention. When he 

 had gone some forty or fifty miles, the ice became very 

 troublesome; and notwithstanding every possible effort was 

 made to prevent it, the Polaris became inextricably beset, 

 August 15th, in latitude 80 40', and was for some time in 

 extreme peril, but was almost miraculously saved, and got 

 again for a while free from the ice. She then steamed 

 southward till, in latitude 80 2', it became necessary to 

 make fast to a floating field of ice. The vessel drifted 

 with this field do\vn to 77 35', when they encountered a 

 heavy southwest gale. 



Captain Buddington, realizing the possibility of having 

 to abandon the Polaris, had provided for the emergency 

 by having a large quantity of provisions, the officers' bag- 

 gage, guns, amunition, nautical and other instruments, and 

 other portable articles of value, removed to the deck, so 

 \hat they might easily be passed from the ship to the ice. 

 The boats were also held in readiness, and a canvas shelter 

 was erected on the ice-field. 



After several hairbreadth escapes, the crisis came on the 

 15th of October, when a terrific gale added to the dan- 

 gers by which the P@laris was already environed. The 



