PUMPS WORKED DAY AND NIGHT. 



113 



the rising and bursting of the floe, we finally discovered that 

 the ship, after receiving several severe shocks, was leaking 

 badly. Steam was got on the engine boilers, and both steam 

 and hand pumps were worked day and night until the ship 



FASTENED TO A FLOE. 



was partially repaired. Stores were hoisted out of the hold, 

 and all preparations made to make good our retreat to 

 Wrangel Land if forced to abandon the ship. We continued 

 to drift northwest, and steam was necessary to pump the ship 

 until May 18, 1880. 



In the meantime a water-tight bulk-head had been built in- 

 to the forward part of the ship, and the spaces between the 

 ship's frames filled in with meal, tallow, ashes, and oakum 

 to keep out the water. After May 18th, 1880, the water was 

 pumped out night and day by hand pump or windmill pump 

 until the ship was destroyed. 



Long and dreary months of close confinement to the ship, 

 and anxiety for her safety continued until May 17th, 1881, 

 when we were enlivened by our first sight of land since 

 March, 1880, when we lost sight of Wrangel Land; and as 



