THE LAST OF THE JEANNETTE. 503 



on the south meridian, about 2° above the horizon. It 

 was a beautiful sight indeed. The refraction being 

 considerable, she showed with remarkable size and daz- 

 zling brilliancy, while seeming to dance about with un- 

 restrained joy. I take it for a happy omen. 



The old crack, two hundred and fifty yards east of 

 the ship, opened again to the width of one foot. Tracks 

 of a bear were found nearly alongside this morning. 



January 6th, Wednesday. — At three a. m. one would 

 have believed w T e were in for a lively time. At 2.50 

 the ice seemed in general excitement, snapping and 

 grinding, while the ship experienced several severe 

 nips. The quartermaster was running into the cabin to 

 report, but was met by Chipp on his way to make 

 weather observations, so I was not aware of it. The 

 quartermaster's impression was that everything was 

 about to turn upside down. Chipp says the ice was 

 cracking and grinding under his feet right alongside. 

 In ten minutes all was quiet again, and when daylight 

 came the only sign of any change was the closing to- 

 gether of the lead opened yesterday. 



I anticipate from the falling barometer and increasing 

 cold a S. W. % wind before long. Anything that will 

 favor us is much to be desired. I can see nothing to 

 be gained by ranging along parallel to the Siberian 

 coast, and something may be gained by working to the 

 eastward. If patience and long - suffering, hope de- 

 ferred and deferred again, anxiety and ambition, could 

 give me foresight, how glad I should be, — perhaps, for 

 after all the yet unknown future may be worse than the 

 known present. 



January 7th, Friday. — It would be very difficult for 

 any one accustomed to the winters of the temperate 

 zone to understand how hard the snow may be packed 



