CHAP. V.] RESTOWING PROVISIONS. 323 



diately to refit, so far as could be conveniently 

 done. The small sails and geer had already 

 been put into order, and now the topsails under- 

 went an inspection, while the bulwark inside was 

 caulked, the seams paid over with a layer of 

 resin, scraped, and primed with a coating of yellow 

 paint. The tanks were also ordered to be cleansed 

 in order to their being filled ; and, as the com- 

 paratively small dimensions of the fragments of ice 

 which now surrounded us, as well as its loose and 

 disconnected state, would necessarilv render futile 

 any attempt to save a stock of provisions, &c, in 

 case of accident, and there no longer, therefore, 

 existed any reason for keeping it on deck, I gave 

 directions that every thing should be restowed ; 

 except a sufficient supply of pemmican, preserved 

 meats, &c, to be kept on deck for each boat in 

 readiness for any emergency, against which it 

 was still necessary to provide, as it was uncertain 

 whether the ship would float, when once more 

 in open water. At all events, whenever that 

 time should arrive, whether soon or late, and 

 whether with good or evil fortune, it was clear 

 that the promptest activity would be required 

 from all on board ; and that it was necessary, 

 therefore, to have all prepared beforehand. 



Up to noon on April 25th nothing occurred 

 worth mentioning. We were perhaps a little 

 farther from the land, the nearest part of which 



y 2 



