THE LAST OF THE JEANNETTE. 547 



the crow's-nest show me a strong appearance of high 

 land, but I have not yet been able to say positively that 

 it is not cloud. At one time I thought I could see a 

 connecting snow-line, as if the upper part of our island 

 sloped backward and upward to a higher ridge beyond, 

 but I was unable to see a snow-peak that Mr. Dunbar 

 saw just before I could join him in the crow's-nest. 

 Weather generally clear, bright, and pleasant. An E. 

 wind freshening, and promising a stronger blow for to- 

 morrow. 



The ice opened in a crack about five hundred yards 

 to the eastward of the ship, and came together toward 

 midnight, the ship receiving several slight shocks when 

 the ice edges met. 



We are favored with an occasional dovekie (black 

 guillemot), shot by some of our people, the luckless 

 bird being attracted by the little lanes and cracks in the 

 ice near us instead of making for the island, where it 

 would be safe. Last Saturday we in the cabin had one 

 apiece for dinner, and I am in hopes of seeing enough 

 hanging to the main boom to have them for dinner fore 

 and aft next Saturday. 



May 19th, Thursday. — E. S. E. w T inds make us move 

 along at a brisk rate, evidenced by our opening out our 

 island's north side. Centre of island bears W. (true). 



At 9.30 A. m. the ice quietly opened seventy yards 

 from our starboard bow, and a lane of water about 

 twenty feet in width extended north and south for 

 about three miles, and several other cracks and lanes 

 were visible to the northwest. Whether when we get 

 to the westward of our island the ice will spread and 

 open remains to be seen ; but this lane is quite close 

 enough, unless we can use it for an advance. We have 

 a crack under our starboard counter that may connect, 



