A FROZEN SUMMER. 381 



instant, however, we have been as steadily going back, 

 and to-day we are very nearly in the same latitude we 

 reached a month ago, and about fifteen miles W. of 

 our old track, going on " backward in our flight." Here 

 then, so far as we can judge, is a month lost, and worse 

 than lost, for we have got into shallower water where 

 but little wave action can or will take place to break 

 up the field which surrounds us. Water-sk}^ in abun- 

 dance indicates some ponds, if no larger opening; 

 though as they change positions daily, no very consid- 

 erable opening can have occurred. In our immediate 

 vicinity where the water pumped from the ship froze 

 over the old ice, the crust is thawing and forming 

 ponds. This makes our walking uncertain, for without 

 warning one is apt to break through and be in water 

 over his knees. As all around the ship ashes and ref- 

 use have been spread, presenting a black surface, the 

 ice underneath rapidly melts, and by the careful atten- 

 tions of Melville, Dunbar, and the doctor, the resulting 

 water is led by canals to the ditch, where, by its 

 warmth, say 30°, it honey-combs the heavier ice be- 

 neath. By the wasting of the ice the ship is more un- 

 covered, and within a day or two we have noticed that 

 she has come up, " cradle and all," about four inches, as 

 indicated by the falling of the water-level on her doub- 

 ling. Every day Mr. Dunbar and the men are out on 

 the hunt, and occasionally a seal is brought in, in tow 

 of the dogs, as the result. All bears seem to have dis- 

 appeared, not a single track having been seen for some 

 days. They evidently have gone to the land, where 

 the breeding season affords them more attractive food 

 than seal meat at rare intervals. 



June 19^/i, Saturday. — Observations to-day show 

 a drift to S. 47° E. seven miles. That our drift is not 



