620 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



ahead farther than we had been able to go before din- 

 ner, I instructed Melville to move everything on to 

 the last flag, while I went ahead to plant more. By 

 3.30 A. m. I had marked out a point which I considered 

 a good two miles southwest of our last camp ; and con- 

 cluding this would be as far as we should be able to 

 drag our loads, I sent word back by Dunbar to Melville, 

 and ordered my instrument box sent to the front. The 

 sun was now showing at times, and the clouds and fog 

 were rolling away before the N. N. W. wind. The ba- 

 rometer was at 30, and the thermometer at 27°, the 

 latter accounting for the clearing weather ; ahead of 

 us a smooth road extended for a mile, apparently giv- 

 ing good promise for to-morrow. The fog in rolling 

 away disclosed a few cirrus clouds, promising good 

 weather, and the low temperature seemed to insure our 

 having the sun long enough to get our wet clothing 

 and sleeping gear dry. At 6.45 a. m. everything was 

 up and we pitched the camp. At 7.30 had supper. At 

 nine a. m. read Articles of War, and had divine service. 

 At 9.30 a. m. piped down. Everybody is bright and 

 cheerful, and apparently (except Chipp and Danen- 

 hower) in excellent health. We have abundance of 

 food, good appetites, sleep well, and, as Mr. Cole ex- 

 presses it, he " seems to get more spring in him every 

 day." My sights place us in 77° 31' N., and 150° 41' E., 

 a change in position since June 25th of thirteen miles 

 S. 30° W. As our distance made by account is twelve 

 miles, it would seem that we have had no current 

 against us. But of course I cannot tell ; we may have 

 been set down that much in three days by our northerly 

 winds, and therefore I must accept the position as sim- 

 ply showing where we are, and push on for the edge of 

 the ice. 



