360 DIMINUTION OF ICE. [CHAP.VI. 



atmosphere. One novelty indeed there was 

 in those stagnant hours, and that a suffi- 

 ciently gratifying one, viz. that the temperature 

 remained above the freezing point through- 

 out the night, the lowest having been 33°-{-. 

 At noon of June 14th it was 54° + , the sky 

 being still overcast and no land in sight. Some 

 lanes of water appeared, but none of any conse- 

 quence. Within the last few days the upper 

 portion of the ice had undergone a perceptible 

 diminution from increased warmth, but there 

 was still an immense thickness to be dissolved ; 

 and one summer, such as this region could be 

 expected to afford, might not suffice for the 

 destruction of so vast and, as it seemed, inter- 

 minable a body, without the co-operation of some 

 more powerful and speedy influence. The im- 

 potence of our own efforts had been already mani- 

 fested in the attempts in which, although zeal and 

 self-interest had prompted every man to do his 

 utmost, we found ourselves unable to effect more 

 than to level down some of the inequalities of the 

 surface near the stern, or on either side of the 

 ship. Nothing, indeed, favourable could be ex- 

 pected, until the ice should become slack enough 

 to allow the imprisoned under pieces to rise to 

 the surface. 



The period had again arrived for examining 

 the crew, who were reported to be in much the 



