THE RETURN OF DAYLIGHT. 277 



been for a long time manufacturing ice. At the be- 

 ginning of the leak the water was pumped out directly 

 upon the floe, where it of course almost immediately 

 froze. As the ice rose in consequence it soon reached 

 our scupper, and that commenced to freeze up also. 

 Then Chipp set to work and had a hole dug out under 

 the scupper through to the water, and by covering over 

 this hole with boards and snow, secured an outlet for 

 the water from the ship, which w^as protected from 

 freezing. Since this time we have had no trouble. 

 Should we have a commotion in the ice there is every 

 chance of the ice making a sweep of our deck athwart- 

 ships, but we have to run that risk. No tools could 

 stand the racket in this temperature, and we must wait 

 for an increase of temperature to enable us to carry 

 out the plan of digging the ship out by cutting a trench 

 four feet in width all around her. Ship's position de- 

 termined by Chipp's observations to-day to be in lati- 

 tude 72" 12' N., and longitude 175" 30' W., showing a 

 drift of twelve miles due W. since last observations, 

 one week ago. 



March 7th, Sunday. — iVt eleven the Articles of "War 

 were read, and the crew mustered, after which I read 

 divine service in the cabin. Cloudy and dull weather. 

 We have had such a continuance of bright, clear, and 

 almost cloudless weather that we resent a chancre. We 

 are also having a moderate gale, another novelty, and 

 are so spoiled in consequence as to be somewhat dis- 

 gusted. The temperature, however, increases from 

 minus 33° to minus 22° by noon, and falls only to minus 

 28° at midnight. S. E. winds have always raised our 

 temperature. The ice has opened in consequence, for 

 much vapor was observed to arise from it to-day. 



March 9th, Tuesday. — Taking advantage of the 



