76 SEEKING SHELTER. 



gathering strength for another stroke. Fortunately 

 the blows are of short duration, else our already dam- 

 aged canvas, which is reduced to the smallest possible 

 dimensions, would fly into ribbons. 



The coast which gives us this spasmodic protection 

 is bleak enough. The cliffs are about twelve hun- 

 dred feet high, and their tops and the hills behind 

 them are covered with the recent snows. The wind 

 blows a cloud of drift over the lofty wall, and, after 

 whirling it about in the air, in a manner which, under 

 other circumstances, would no doubt be pretty enough, 

 drops it upon us in great showers. The winter is set>- 

 ting in early. At this time of the season in 1853-54 

 these same hills were free from snow, and so remained 



until two weeks later. 



10 o'clock, P. M. 



We have gained nothing upon the land, and are al- 

 most where we were at noon. The gale continues as 

 before, and hits us now and then as hard as ever. 

 The view from the deck is magnificent beyond de- 

 scription. The imagination cannot conceive of a 

 scene more wild. A dark cloud hangs to the north- 

 ward, bringing the white slopes of Cape Alexander 

 into bold relief. Over the cliffs roll great sheets of 

 drifting snow, and streams of it pour down every ra- 

 vine and gorge. Whirlwinds shoot it up from the hill- 

 tops, and spin it through the air. The streams which 

 pour through the ravines resemble the spray of mam- 

 moth waterfalls, and here and there through the fickle 

 cloud the dark rocks protrude and disappear and pro- 

 trude again. A glacier which descends through a val- 

 ley to the bay below is covered with a broad cloak 

 of revolving whiteness. The sun is setting in a black 

 and ominous horizon. But the wildest scene is upon 



