THE LAST OF THE JE ANNETTE. 569 



again and resumed its accustomed drift N. W. In that 

 direction the ice extended in a limitless field. Sound- 

 ings in thirty-seven fathoms ; moderate drift W. ; E. 

 N. E. and E. winds prevailed all day from ten to four- 

 teen miles velocity, and from the general appearance 

 of things I am inclined to think we are going to have 

 a little blow. 



I am intensely relieved that our traveling party had 

 no mishap. They started in just the best time and got 

 back none too soon. Sunday morning they were all on 

 board, and Monday we commenced our drift again. Of 

 course, with the fogs and our drifting, had they been 

 absent yesterday the chances of their safety would have 

 been seriously jeopardized. And now where next ? 



June 8th, Wednesday. — By great good luck got 

 sights for position and determined it to be latitude N. 

 77° 14' 45", longitude E. 156° 41' 30", a drift since the 

 3d of twenty and a half miles N. 85° W. As we moved 

 so little while the sledge party was away, we have 

 probably made the most of this distance in the past 

 three days. Soundings in thirty-four and a half fath- 

 oms, a rapid drift W. S. W. being indicated by the lead 

 line ; lowered and hauled the dredge. 



A little lane of water remains on what were the 

 north and east sides of our island, but otherwise the 

 ice-field seems as boundless as ever. We are leaving 

 Henrietta Island rapidly to the eastward of us, and be- 

 fore many days it may be lost to view. Inasmuch as 

 we have passed it already, one might call it a thing of 

 the past. (I am afraid that is a poor joke, but since 

 the windmill struck me I can do no better.) 



Fresh E. N. E. breezes fifteen to seventeen miles an 

 hour. Barometer 30.11 to 30.14. 



I am glad to say that Alexey was this day discharged 



