236 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



enced, except the helmsman. I had been watching the seas 

 for a long time, and had noticed that they ran in threes, and 

 that there was a short lull after the third and heaviest one. 

 I had the men detailed as follows : Wilson and Mansen at 

 the oars, keeping them peaked high above the sea, Cole at 

 the halyards to lower sail, Anequin and the steward to gather 

 the sail, Bartlett to launch the drag, and Leach at the helm. 

 I gave preparatory orders very carefully at the words 

 4 Lower away !' to put the helm hard-a-starboard, lower sail 

 and give way with starboard oar, holding water with the 

 port oar, if possible in the seaway. 



I watched more than five minutes for my chance, for our 

 lives depended on the success of that movement. At the 

 proper moment I shouted ' Lower away ! ' and every man did 

 his duty ; the boat came round, gave a tremendous dive and 

 she was then safe, head to sea. We eased the oars and 

 launched the drag. It watched about three points on the 

 port bow, so I sent down the spare fire-pot and a bucket by 

 putting loops, or what we call beckets, on the bales. Cole 

 suggested sending down a painted bag with the mouth open. 

 It filled with water, dragged, and was very effective. We 

 then lay head to sea during the night. A number of the 

 party turned in under the canvas. Melville was exhausted 

 and had his legs badly swollen ; so he turned in abreast the 

 foremast, leaving me in charge. 



Leach and Wilson steered with a paddle during the night, 

 and I sat at their feet watching. The upper gudgeon of the 

 rudder had been carried away, so we took the rudder on 

 board. Our fresh water had been ruined by the seas that 

 had boarded us, but late on the night before leaving the 

 island Newcomb had brought in several ptarmigan, which 

 had been dressed and put in our kettle, the other tents not 

 caring to take their share. This proved excellent food for 

 us the next day, as they were not too salt to be eaten. 



At daylight, September 13th, there were no boats in sight, 

 and the gale was still raging. About ten A. M. I noticed that 

 a new sea was making and the old sea was more abeam. 



