FROM NEW YORK TO ETAH 17 



Sunday, July ^oth. — Ran into Domino Run late 

 last night without dropping anchor, and Captain Bart- 

 lett pulled ashore with the letters, coming off again 

 at once. He learned that the ice was against the 

 coast as far down as Cape Harrigan. 



Going into the Run it was clear as a bell, and while 

 lying to, waiting for the Captain's return, the stars 

 twinkled as in winter, a biting wind whistled through 

 the rigging, and a brilliant curtain aurora waved 

 across the northern sky, while ashore the dogs were 

 howling merrily. 



Pacing the bridge, these familiar sights and sounds 

 stirred me with the call of the polar mystery. Might 

 it not be possible that this breath, this presence, as 

 it were, of the land of the "Great Night" was 

 reaching down far beyond its usual haunts to greet 

 and welcome my coming? 



When we steamed out, less than an hour after our 

 arrival, the fog had settled down again, and the tem- 

 porary jamming of the rudder chains while negotia- 

 ting the narrow channel, caused a slight flurry, but 

 resulted in nothing serious. 



Clear of the harbour, our course was set N. E. by E. 

 to bring us to the Greenland coast, well up Davis' 

 Strait. Dense fog all night and to-day, with very 

 smooth sea. Several narrow shaves from icebergs 

 during the night, but this morning we were in deep 

 water, and clear of them. 



A light breeze from the southeast, just enough to 

 fill our headsails, foresail, spanker and balloon stay- 

 sails, but with no push to it. There will be no more 

 sailing lights for us, side or masthead or stern. We are 



