ACCIDENT TO MR. KNORR. 176 



and the temperature is 16° below zero. The effect of 

 the gale has been to drive the ice away again from 

 the outer bay, and we are once more within the sound 

 of the roaring surf. 



November 8th. 



The air having become somewhat more quiet, I 

 walked out to-day to the open water. Knorr accom- 

 panied me. The view from the margin of the ice was 

 dark and fearful. Heavy mist-clouds hung over the 

 sea. Loose ice-fields were drifting through the black- 

 ness, crashing harshly against each other, and sending 

 the spray gleaming into the moonlight. The icebergs 

 stood out here and there in stern defiance of the jar- 

 ring elements, while the tumbling seas struck the 

 white foam far up their lofty sides ; and out of the 

 gloom came a wail, as of 



" a thousand ghosts, 

 Shrieking at once on the hollow wind." 



On our way back, Knorr, who has much skill in getr 

 ting himself into trouble, failed in a spring as we 

 were making our way over some loose floes, and he 

 plumped bodily into the sea. The accident was not 

 less dangerous than disagreeable ; for after 1 had 

 dragged him out of the water there were almost two 

 miles between us and the schooner. Fortunately he 

 arrived on board after a vigorous run with nothing 

 worse than a frozen foot, which did not, however, re- 

 sult in any inconvenience greater than the pain, since 

 my former experience readily suggested the proper 

 remedies. The frozen member was first placed in ice- 

 cold water, the temperature of which was slowly in- 

 creased from hour to hour until the flesh was com- 

 pletely thawed out. There was no resulting inflam 

 mation, and the foot came from the bath without 

 even a blister. 



