352 PERILOUS EXCURSION. [CHAP.VI. 



the correctness of their aim, it contrived to reach 

 the margin and plunge into the water. Those 

 of the crew who had been sporting were equally 

 unfortunate, having met with few birds ; among 

 those shot, however, may be mentioned a fat 

 dovekie, and a kind of widgeon. The weather 

 cleared and showed us Salisbury Island, which 

 bore N.W. h W. At 2 h p. m., it being th 



en 



spring-tide, the ice, gradually slackening beyond 

 our pack, set to the N.E. for two hours, after 

 which it partially closed again, leaving, however, 

 a few holes, to which some of the officers and 

 men went off, for the purpose of shooting what- 

 ever they might find. But about 8 h p. m. there 

 was a partial slacking out of the ice between 

 them and us, and the water being soon covered 

 with brash and sludge, which lay thickly between 

 the larger pieces, it was impossible to send out a 

 boat. The officers, who, being disappointed of 

 their sport, were nearer the ship, found no dif- 

 ficulty in returning ; but the men, who had 

 straggled farther, were very differently situated. 

 They had not only a lane to cross, but had to 

 pick their way from piece to piece over two 

 miles of loose ice ; a labour which we, unable to 

 render the least assistance, watched with no 

 little uneasiness, lest those who were less alert 

 should fall into the water or be disabled. They 

 managed, notwithstanding, to arrive on board 



