TkOUBLES OF EXPLORER 161 



had soup made from a pound of seal blood, which we had saved for a month ; 

 a two-pound can of sausage meat, the last of the canned meat ; a few ounces of 

 seal, which we saved with the blood, all cut up fine ; last of our can of apples, 

 which we saved also for Christmas. The whole was boiled to a thick soup, 

 which I think was the sweetest meal I ever ate. This, with half pound of ham 

 and two ounces of bread, gave us our Christmas dinner." 



As Spring came on the experiences became dreadful. Herron says : 

 "April 5. — Blowing a gale from the N. E., and a fearful sea running. 

 Two pieces broke from the floe. We are on one close to the ten. At 5 a. m. 

 removed our things to the centre. Another piece broke off, carrying Joe's hut 

 (just built) with it; luckily, it gave some warning, so that they had time 

 to throw out some things before it parted. A dreadful day ; cannot do any- 

 thing to help ourselves. If the ice break up much more, we must break up 

 with it ; set a watch all night. 



"April 6. — Wind changed to N. W. ; blowing a very severe gale. Still 

 on the same ice ; cannot get off. At the mercy of the elements. ^ Joe lost 

 another hut to-day. The ice, with a roar, split across the floe, cutting Joe's 

 hut right in two. We have but a small piece left. Cannot lie down to- 

 night. Put a few things in the boat, and now standing by for a jump; such 

 is the night. 



"April 7. — Wind W. N. W. ; still blowing a gale, with a fearful sea run- 

 ning. The ice split right across our tent this morning at 6 a. m. While get- 

 ting a few ounces of bread and pemmican we lost our breakfast in scrambling 

 out of our tent, and nearly lost our boat, which would have been terrible. 

 We could not catch any seal after the storm set in, so we are obliged to starve 

 for a while, hoping in God it will not be for a long time. The worst of it 

 is we have no blubber for the lamp, and cannot cook or melt any water. Every- 

 thing looks very gloomy. Set a watch; half the men are lying down, the 

 others walking outside the tent. 



"April 8. — Last night, at twelve o'clock, the ice broke again between the 

 tent and the boat, which were close together — so close that a man could not 

 walk between them. There the ice split, separating the boat and tent, carry- 

 ing away boat, kayak and Mr. Meyer. There we stood, helpless, looking 

 at each other. It was blowing and snowing, very cold, and a fearful sea 

 running. The ice was breaking, lapping and crushing. The sight was grand, 

 but dreadful to us in our position. Mr. Meyer cast the kayak adrift, but it 

 went to leeward of us. He can do nothing with the boat alone, so they 



