AT ANCHOR. 79 



bare poles. It is not a pleasing reflection — a " pack " 

 and a thousand icebergs to leeward, and an unman- 

 ageable vessel under foot. McCormick is struggling 



manfully for the shore. 



10 o'clock, A. M. 



We reached the shore this morning at 3 o'clock, 

 and anchored in four fathoms water/ The stern of the 

 schooner was swung round and moored with our stout- 

 est hawser to a rock ; but a squall fell upon us soon 

 afterward with such violence that, although the sails 

 were all snugly stowed, the hawser was parted like 

 a whip-cord ; and we now lie to our " bower " and 

 " kedge," with thirty fathoms chain. 



And now, in apparent security, the ship's company 

 abandon themselves to repose. Weary and worn with 

 the hard struggle and exposure, we were all badly in 

 need of rest. An abundant supply of hot coffee was 

 our first refreshment. But, notwithstanding their fa- 

 tigue, some of the more enthusiastic members of the 

 party went ashore, so anxious were they to touch this 



far-north land. 



8 o'clock, P. M. 



I have just returned from a tedious climb to the 

 top of the cliffs. At an elevation of twelve hundred 

 feet I had a good view. The sea is free from ice 

 along the shore apparently up to Littleton Island, 

 from which the pack stretches out over the North 

 Water as far as the eye will carry. There appears 

 to be much open water about Cape Isabella, but I 

 could not of course see the shore line. Above the 

 cape the ice appeared to be solid. Although the pros- 

 pect is discouraging, I have determined to attempt a 

 passage with the first favorable wind. 



The journey was a very difficult one, and when I 



