UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN. 369 



hope that we might bring her further up by the head 

 when the ice releases the ship and permits her to float, 

 the bower chains were mibent to-day and stowed in the 

 lockers. 



3Iay 30th, Sunday. — By observation to-day I find 

 we are in latitude N. 74° 5' 27", longitude 177° E., 

 showing a drift since the 28th of three miles to N. 11° 

 E. We have evidently gotten under way again, though 

 for some reason we are prevented from going to the 

 westward, perhaps by a heavy barrier of ice, against 

 which our field is slowly grinding along. I have had 

 an idea that our drift of late may be explained in some 

 such manner ; our field turning on a pivot as it ad- 

 vances, and eventually bringing us to its highest point, 

 will throw us off to the eastward. The northwesting 

 having been accomplished we are now doing our north- 

 ing, and then going to N. E. will eventually be carried 

 along E. by the current which sets E. through the 

 Archipelago N. of the American Continent. Time will 

 show the fallacy or the truth of this supposition ; but 

 meanwhile it- affords a subject for contemplation. 



The usual Sunday inspection and divine service. 

 The high temperature being promising, I have directed 

 that during the coming week the deck-house be taken 

 down, the steam -cutter restowed, and the sleds dis- 

 mounted. Our new arrangements for summer will be 

 mentioned later on. 



A very gratifying reduction in the coal expenditure 

 has resulted from our doing partially without fire. 



May 31st, Monday. — The last day of spring, and 

 then we shall have summer before us. Let us hope 

 that with spring may end all trials and tribulations, and 

 that we shall now start forward to the accomplishment 

 of some purpose. Our observations to-day are encour- 



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