72 MEETING THE ICE PACK. 



in approaching near enough to inspect its character, 

 we began to beat to windward with the hope of reach- 

 ing the lee side of Northumberland Island, there to 

 await better weather. In this purpose we were, how- 

 ever, defeated, for, the wind falling almost to calm, we 

 were forced to grope about in the gloom, seeking an 

 iceberg for a mooring ; but the waves proved to be 

 running too high to admit of our landing from a boat, 

 and we passed the night in much uneasiness, drifting 

 northward. Fortunately the pack was moving in the 

 same direction, otherwise we should have been carried 

 upon it. The breakers could be distinctly heard all 

 the time, and on several occasions we caught sight of 

 them ; but, by availing ourselves of every puff of 

 wind to crawl off, we escaped without collision. Once 

 I was satisfied that we had no alternative but to wear 

 round and plunge head foremost into the danger, 

 rather than await the apparent certainty of drifting 

 broadside upon it; but at the critical moment the 

 wind freshened, and, continuing for a few hours, we 

 held our own while the pack glided slowly away 

 from us. 



Our dogs had made a heavy drain upon our water- 

 casks, and the watch was engaged during the night in 

 melting the snow which had fallen upon the deck. 

 We also fished up from the sea some small fragments 

 of fresh ice with a net. By these means we obtained 

 a supply of water sufficient to last us for several days. 



The wind hauled to the northeast as the morning 

 dawned, and the clouds broke away, disclosing the 

 land. Cape Alexander, whose lofty walls guard the 

 entrance to Smith's Sound, appeared to be about 

 twenty miles away, and Cape Isabella, thirty-five miles 

 distant from it, was visible on the opposite side. Hold- 



