112 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. IV. 



saw and fired at a musk-ox, but did not kill him ; 

 they saw also several golden plovers, and one or 

 two boatswains (Lestris). On the 15th they reached 

 the ships, and were complimented by their ship- 

 mates on their good looks, and was appearing in 

 more robust health than when they departed. 



Towards the end of June the ice began to move 

 in the offing, with a loud grinding noise ; and on 

 the 5th of July the thermometer rose from 50° to 

 52°, and on the two following days to 55°. The ice 

 in harbour also began to dissolve, and was there 

 covered with pools of water. On the 17th the tem- 

 perature rose to 60°, the highest point it ever reached 

 at Melville Island. On the 24th everything was 

 complete for proceeding to sea; "the sails were 

 bent in readiness for starting at a moment's notice, 

 though it must be confessed that the motive for 

 doing; so was to make some show of moving, rather 

 than any expectation I dared to entertain of soon 

 escaping from our long and tedious confinement ; 

 for it was impossible to conceal from the men the 

 painful fact, that in eight or nine weeks from this 

 period, the navigable season must unavoidably come 

 to a conclusion.'* Another painful fact was, that 

 before the expiration of July the approach of winter 

 announced itself in the diminution of temperature, 

 which seldom reached 40° by day, and also by the 

 falls of sleet and snow, as well as by the pools of 

 water frozen over in the night. 



