344 IN A FOG. 



My purpose now was to make the best push I 

 could, and, traveling as far as my provisions war- 

 ranted, reach the highest attainable latitude and 

 secure such a point of observation as would enable 

 me to form a definite opinion respecting the sea be- 

 fore me, and the prospects of reaching and navigating 

 it with a boat or with the schooner. I had already 

 reached a position somewhat to the northward of that 

 attained by Morton, of Dr. Kane's expedition, in June, 

 1854, and was looking out upon the same sea from a 

 point probably about sixty miles to the northward and 

 westward of Cape Constitution, where, only a month 

 later in the season, his further progress was arrested 

 by open water. 



It only remained for me now to extend the survey 

 as far to the north as possible. By the judicious hus- 

 banding of my resources I had still within my hands 

 ample means to guarantee a successful termination to 

 a journey which the increasing darkness and extent 

 of the water-sky to the northeast seemed to warn me 

 was approaching its climax. 



Our first day's journey was not particularly en- 

 couraging. The ice in the bay was rough and the 

 snow deep, and, after nine hours of laborious work, 

 we were compelled to halt for rest, having made, 

 since setting out, not more than as many miles. Our 

 progress had been much retarded by a dense fog 

 which settled over us soon after starting, and which, 

 by preventing us from seeing thirty yards on either 

 side, interfered with the selection of a track ; and we 

 were, in consequence, forced to pursue our course by 

 compass. 



The fog clearing up by the time we had become 

 rested, and the land being soon reached, we pursued 



