PROGRESS WESTWARD OF THE ISLAND. 403 



used for firing had become so saturated with the 

 rain that they would not ignite, and we had 

 consequently to forego our greatest comfort, the 

 luxury of a warm cup of tea. Pemmican and 

 water, however, served our turn tolerably well, 

 though the least indisposed to that useful com- 

 pound had long been satiated, and were now 

 content with half the usual allowance. At 10 

 p.m. there was less wind, and the swell had 

 rather abated ; and although from the aspect of 

 the clouds there was reason to expect a renewal 

 of the gale rather than a calm, it was an occasion 

 not to be lost, and the boat was launched. We 

 pulled round the south-west part of the island, 

 the northern being encumbered with rocks and 

 shoals, which in the event of a sudden squall 

 would have proved troublesome, and even dan- 

 gerous. The tide was flowing, and therefore 

 against us ; and a dense wet fog coming on soon 

 afterwards from the southward, enveloped us at 

 once in cold and darkness. Having passed an 

 extensive opening, which was taken for a bay, 

 and received the name of the Honourable Captain 

 Elliot of the Admiralty, sail was made on the 

 boat ; and by midnight we were opposite our old 

 encampment. At that time not a particle of 

 ice was visible ahead, and the men, encouraged 

 by so unexpected a sight, put out their utmost 

 strength at the oars to gain a blue streak of land 



d d 2 



