A SXOW-STORM. 61 



the ice ; but the whiter is then near at hand, and pre- 

 sents a serious source of danger ; for if the ice once 

 closes around you, the first fall of temperature may 

 g-lue vou fast for the next ten months to come. The 

 whalers usually take the pack in May or June, and 

 even sometimes earlier, when the ice is hard and is 

 just beginning to break up. 



When we entered Melville Bay there were but 

 eight days remaining to us of the month of August. 

 I had to regret the loss of time at the settlements ; 

 but this was unavoidable. Before leaving Upernavik I 

 had resolved upon the course w^hich I w^ould pursue, — 

 to take the pack whenever we should find it, enter it 

 at the most favorable opening, and, without looking 

 for the land ice, to make the most direct line for Cape 

 York. It was much in our favor that the wind had 

 prevailed for many days from the eastward, and had 

 apparently pushed the whole pack over toward the 

 American side, opening for us a clear, broad expanse 

 of water. Would it so remain, and give us a free 

 passage to Cape York ? I have already said that 

 I saw its reflection over the clouds, — the " ice-blink " 

 to the westward. It was not far away. Would it 

 remain so ? 



While reflecting upon the chances ahead the wind 

 rose, and blew^ half a gale. A heavy sea was getting 

 up behind us. A dark cloud, which had hung upon 

 the southern horizon for some time, came climbing up 

 the sky, and at length spreading itself out in flying 

 fragments, it shook over us a shower of frozen vapor, 

 and then settled into a regular snow storm. Unable 

 to see fifty yards on either side, I came down from my 

 uncomfortable perch on the fore-yard. 



It became now a subject for serious consideration 



