LEAVING THE SHIP BEHIND. 603 



hardly angle enough for a good intersection. The lon- 

 gitude is about E. 152°. 



At 8.30 a. m. piped down. At six p. m. called all 

 hands. Breakfasted at seven. Sent Mr. Dunbar ahead 

 through the most likely looking part of the rough ice 

 in front of us to try to find a road. At eight started 

 ahead on our day's work, and, to save unnecessary de- 

 tailed description, I will here mention once for all our 

 manner of procedure. 



The daily routine and manner of progress marked 

 out on the 16th have had to be abandoned for several 

 reasons, the principal of which was the impossibility of 

 telling one minute how the ice would be the next in 

 disarranging plans ; and second in importance, because 

 men cannot do this kind of work ten and a half hours 

 each day without breaking down. By and by, perhaps, 

 when our loads are lighter, w T e may be able to do it, but 

 just now it is out of the question. Our route having 

 been indicated by several black flags placed after a halt, 

 or before a start, Mr. Dunbar goes ahead at eight p. m. 

 to make sure that no bridges have become necessary in 

 the mean time. Then right after him goes Melville, 

 with nearly all hands, dragging the heavy sleds. No. 1 

 (already christened the Walrus) requires all his force, 

 but generally he can start two of the others at one 

 time. Ei'icksen and Leach run two dog sleds, trip after 

 trip, all day ; while I load, and occasionally run one 

 myself ahead, to mark progress and indicate the route. 

 The loaded sleds being up, Melville's party comes back 

 for the boats. I then start the doctor ahead with the 

 sick, to go as far as the heavy sleds have been dragged. 

 I then get the medical sled and run a load up to the 

 same place. By this time the boats are up, and eleven 

 p. M. has arrived, and I break off the cooks to get din- 



