552 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



was in great pain and unable to talk. However, be- 

 yond a severe wrench to the small of his back, there 

 was no injury inflicted, and except for his being laid up 

 for some days no serious consequences are to be antici- 

 pated. 



Now for the land. It is an island beyond doubt; and 

 its nearest point, which I take to be its southern ex- 

 tremity, bears S. 69° 30' W., and it subtends an angle 

 of 3° 35', while our first discovery's eastern end bears 

 S. 17° W., and subtends an angle of 2° 42'. I think 

 both islands extend in a west by north and east by 

 south direction. Computation of the position of our 

 first island, from our change of its bearing of the 20th 

 and 24th, would put it more accurately in latitude N. 

 76° 48', longitude E. 159° ; and until I can get its bear- 

 ing due south (true), this bearing of to-day and the 

 20th are more nearly accurate as to longitude than 

 those of the 16th and 20th. 



Latitude N. 77° 16', longitude E. 159° 33' 30". A drift 

 since the 20th of thirty-two and one half miles N. 41° 

 W. This is progress indeed, — eight miles a day. Con- 

 sidering that we commenced the year in latitude 73° 48', 

 longitude E. 177° 32', we have no reason to complain 

 at the long step we have made, — 310 miles N. 47° W. 



Soundings in forty and one half fathoms, and tem- 

 perature comparatively cheerful, plus 27°. 



Our engineer's force are occupied in putting together 

 the windmill pump and getting it ready for the sum- 

 mer's work. Chipp is still quite weak, and in conse- 

 quence obliged to keep his bed. I have taken every 

 precaution to keep his surroundings as quiet as possible, 

 muffling chair legs, not striking the ship's bell, etc., and 

 he has had a peaceful day in consequence. 



May 26th, Wednesday. — Our invalids are progress- 



