206 INTENSELY COLD. [CHAP.IV. 



while making observations. Faint auroras, occa- 

 sionally brightening up a little, were seen fre- 

 quently, but without any of the interesting 

 phenomena which I had been accustomed to 

 observe in the inland regions of this latitude. 

 The ice continued to move, more or less, at a 

 little distance from the floe, while a zigzag crack 

 had commenced at one part on the starboard 

 quarter ; and, after an eccentric course through 

 some of the thickest and largest hummocks, not 

 unlike the wild track of lightning, had turned 

 round and ended as it had begun among the looser 



particles. 



On the 31st January, we had been set far 

 enough off shore to distinguish a distant point 

 beyond Cape Fisher, the bearing of which at 

 noon was S. E. (true) while the other extreme 

 was west ; the observed latitude being 64° 46' N. 

 and longitude 82° 19'W. Happily for us, the 

 weather continued beautifully fine, though in- 

 tensely cold, the thermometer during several days 

 having never been higher than 38° minus, and 

 generally below 44°. This night, the register at 

 midnight was 54° minus ; but though thus coldly 

 welcomed, the month of February was hailed by 

 us with heartfelt gladness, as bringing us nearer 

 to the day of liberation. The mercury froze in 

 the artificial horizon ; and such as were interested 



