232 THE .IE ANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



like losing time. The entire deer was served out and we 

 had orders to remain till Monday morning, or about thirty- 

 six hours. We had noticed that after two or three days of 

 northeast winds it generally finished up with a heavy gale 

 from that quarter, and it was thought we would be likely to 

 get it on Monday or Tuesday. That evening Chipp came 

 over and asked me to go out with him to get some ptarmigan 

 if possible. We came upon a large covey, but could not get 

 a shot. This was my last talk with Chipp. He was in bet- 

 ter health than usual and was cheerful, but not altogether 

 satisfied with the outlook. 



On Monday morning, September 12th, we left Semcnoffski 

 Island, and stood to the southward along the west side of 

 the island, lying to the south. About half-past eleven A. M. 

 we ran through a lot of drift ice, following the first cutter. 

 It was pretty close work, and our boat had to luff through 

 between two big cakes of ice. The sheet was hauled aft in 

 luffing, and the boat sided over against the lee piece, thereby 

 knocking a hole in the starboard side. She filled rapidly, 

 and we barely succeeded in making fast her bow to an ad- 

 jacent cake of ice ; there we put on a lead patch and remedied 

 the damage. This was the last piece of ice that we saw. 

 While repairs were going on I had a chat with Collins, who 

 was as amiable as usual, and had some pleasant story to tell 

 me. The doctor was also very affable, and asked particularly 

 after my health and comfort. 



We then started on a southwest course. The captain kept 

 his boat almost right before the wind ; it was very difficult 

 to keep from jibing, and as the whale-boat was the faster 

 sailer it was hard to keep in position. Our orders were to 

 keep astern of the captain, within easy hail, and for Chipp 

 to bring up the rear, he being second in command. The 

 wind and sea increased very rapidly, and about five P. M. we 

 were out of position about nine hundred yards off the weather 

 quarter of the first cutter. Melville asked me if we could 

 get in position safely, and 1 told him that by jibing twice 

 and lowering the sail we could do so. He then told me to 



