THE RETURN TO COLD AND DARKNESS. 445 



moving south have come from that direction. To-day 

 numerous small flocks of phalaropes (perhaps one hun- 

 dred all told) winged their way to southwest from 

 northeast. 



September 3d, Friday. — Observations to-clay ob- 

 tained place the ship in latitude N. 73° 52', longitude W. 

 176° 51', showing a drift since September 1st of six and 

 eight tenths miles to N. 37° W. 



September 5th, Sunday. — One year in the ice ! and 

 we are only one hundred and fifty miles to the north- 

 ward and westward of where Ave entered it. If a time 

 ever comes when I can sit down quietly, free from the 

 mental strain I am now undergoing, I dare say I shall 

 be able to describe in some coherent style my thoughts 

 and feelings ; but at this moment I have neither power 

 nor inclination to mention them at any length. Anx- 

 iety, disappointment, difficulties, troubles, are all so in- 

 separably mixed that I am unable to select any one for 

 a beginning. Articles of War, muster, inspection, and 

 church as usual for the first Sunday in the month. 

 Our windmill is brought into use again, as we have a 

 wind strong; enough to run it. 



September Qth, Monday. — We have been treated to 

 a spell of refreshingly low temperature, maximum 27°, 

 minimum 17°. This, I suppose, may be termed our 

 Indian summer ! And if so what is an Indian winter ? 

 Everything is frozen as hard as a flint, and the little 

 streams and ponds over which I used to scull or row 

 the dingy are now covered with ice almost strong 

 enough to bear my weight. If this continues we shall 

 have to commence fires again on the berth deck and 

 in the cabin, for it is but cold comfort surveying an 

 unlighted stove. 



Observations obtained to-day show a drift since the 



