BARENTZ' THIRD VOYAGE. 259 



As the month of June set in, they saw the a.d. 



1597. 



urgent necessity of preparing for their departure, 

 and by great efforts repaired their boats ; and 

 on the 12th everything was ready. Before this 

 period the sea had been frequently seen clear 

 of ice, both in the east and west ; the weather 

 was comparatively mild, and on the 6th they 

 had a heavy shower of rain, the first that had 

 fallen that season. 



On the 13th June, it remained only to get 

 the sick down to the boats. Amongst these 

 was poor Barentz, who had long been ill ; and 

 who, with a seaman named Adrianson, was 

 obliged to be drawn to the sea-side on a sledge. 

 The faculties of this enterprising and skilful 

 navigator continued to the last ; he directed 

 all their undertakings, cheered the crew in their 

 work, and seems to have commanded the great- 

 est respect from his subordinates during all the 

 difficulties and sufferings of the long and dreary 

 winter they were compelled to endure. Pre- 

 vious to quitting the house he wrote a letter, 

 detailing all his misfortunes ; and stating that, 

 after passing ten months in that miserable and 

 wretched abode, he and his party had put to 

 sea in two boats, to endeavour to regain their 

 native land. Having placed the boats side by 

 side, he caused every man to subscribe his name 



s 2 



