FAST IN THE ICE. 161 



11.30 Inspection by executive officer. 

 12 M. Get soundings. 



1 p. M. One watch may go below. 



2 Fill barrels with snow. Clear fire-hole of 



ice. 



3 Dinner by watches. 



4 Galley fires out. Carpenter and boatswain 



report departments to executive officer. 

 7.30 Supper by watches. 

 10 Pipe down. Noise and smoking to cease in 



forecastle, and all lights to be put out, 



except one burner of bulkhead lantern. 



Man on watch report to the executive. 

 During the night the anchor watch will examine the 

 fires and lights every half hour, and see that there is 

 no danger from fire. All buckets will be kept on the 

 starboard side of the quarter deck, ready for use in 

 case of fire. 



I think the night one of the most beautiful I have 

 ever seen. The heavens were cloudless, the moon very 

 nearly full and shining brightly, and every star twink- 

 ling ; the air perfectly calm, and not a sound to break 

 the spell. The ship and her surroundings made a per- 

 fect picture. Standing out in bold relief against the blue 

 sky, every rope and spar with a thick coat of snow and 

 frost ; she was simply a beautiful spectacle. The long 

 lines of wire reaching to the tripod and observatory, 

 round frosted lumps here and there where a dog lay 

 asleep, sleds standing on end against the steam-cutter 

 to make a foreground for the ship, surrounded with a 

 bank (rail high) of snow and ice, and in every direction 

 as far as eye could reach a confused, irregular ice-field, 

 would have made a picture seldom seen. 



