412 PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. 



The open water has made still further inroads upon 

 the ice. The islands are all now in the open sea, and 

 it is but a few rods from the ship to its margin. The 

 ice still clings tightly to the schooner, notwithstand- 

 ing all our efforts to free her. In anticipation of a 

 southerly swell setting into the harbor and breaking 

 the ice, I have had the men at work for several days 

 sawing a crack across the harbor from the vessel's fore- 

 foot in the one direction, and from the stern-post in 

 the other. The ice is now only 4| feet thick. 



The sails are all bent on, the hawsers are brought 

 on board, our depot ashore is completed, and we are 

 ready for any fortune. If blown with the ice out to 

 sea, we are fully prepared. 



Upon the hill-top of the north side of the harbor 

 we have constructed a cairn, and under it I have de- 

 posited a brief record of the voyage. The Observa- 

 tory I leave standing, and Kalutunah engages that 

 the Esquimaux will not disturb it during my absence. 

 All of them who have been here are so amply enriched 

 that I think I ought to rely upon their good faith ; 

 yet the wood will be valuable to them, and these poor 

 savages are not the only people who find it hard to 



resist temptation. 



July 9 th. 



I have paid another visit to Chester Valley, and 

 have bade adieu to "Brother John." If the latter 

 continues to grow until I come again, the stakes 

 which I have stuck into its back will show some use- 

 ful results. The valley was clothed in the full robes 

 of summer. The green slopes were sparkling with 

 flowers, and the ice had wholly disappeared from Alida 

 Lake.* Jensen shot some birds and tried hard to catch 

 a deer, and while thus engaged I secured a yellow- 



