542 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



May 7 th, Saturday. — Brisk east wind. The only 

 effect seen resulting from this brisk wind was a re- 

 opening of the one hundred and eighty yard lead and 

 some water spaces a mile on the starboard bow and 

 astern. 



May 9th, Monday. — A pleasant figure in tempera- 

 ture at all events. Maximum plus 17°. Soundings in 

 thirty-seven fathoms ; no drift. Light E. S. E. breeze. 

 And still the days succeed each other, and no signs 

 of a change. Twenty months of this imprisonment is 

 monotonous indeed. 



If our poor clogs could talk they would most likely 

 express their astonishment at the small amount and 

 great variety of food offered them for consumption. It 

 is not only a surprising but a wonderful matter that 

 we have kept them alive so long. Fish was very ac- 

 ceptable while it lasted ; pressed scraps (horse flesh, 

 etc.) not so good, but yet not to be despised ; and seal 

 and walrus meat were excellent substitutes. But it is 

 over a year since we have seen a walrus, and such few 

 seals as we have caught since last summer have been 

 reserved for our own eating. The entrails of our few 

 captured bears were but a hasty lunch, hardly worth 

 mentioning. For a long time, therefore, our dogs have 

 been on short commons. Condemned oatmeal was 

 given them while any was on hand ; then condemned 

 corn meal and suet ; then spare corn meal from natu- 

 ralist's stores, with suet added ; and we are now about 

 to try desiccated potatoes and suet. No doubt they 

 think, " Well ! what next ? " 



May 11th, Wednesday. — One uncomfortable result 

 of the high temperature is making itself apparent, 

 namely, a thaw within the cabin. The accumulation 

 of frost in the window-pockets, and more particularly 



