THE MARCH OVER THE FROZEN OCEAN. 627 



The after bearer of the first cutter's sled was found 

 sprung, and the runner lashings slack. Ordered the 

 watch to repair during our sleep. Several Ross gulls 

 and three seals seen to-day. Piped down at nine a. m. 

 Called all hands at six p. m. ; breakfast at seven p. m. 

 A gloomy, disagreeable day, and unless we want soak- 

 ing wet jackets we must stay under our tents. As soon 

 as breakfast was over I sent word around that no start 

 would be made until the weather improved. We are 

 evidently having a S. W. gale, an unusual thing in our 

 experience of two years, and it would be a matter of 

 pleasant interest, were it not also a subject of much 

 anxiety, to remain quiet and see where it would drift 

 us. This wet day and consequent halt come in op- 

 portunely, for the men are enabled to repair their worn 

 and leaking moccasins. Our sleeping-bags, alas ! are 

 again wet, and in fact it is a miracle when they are 

 dry. If we keep wet this way all the hair will come 

 out of the bags, and we shall lie down on the bare skin. 

 Up to midnight the wind tore around us in fierce gusts, 

 threatening to blow our tents away, while the rain beat 

 down almost steadily. Though cold and damp, if not 

 to say wet, we were in tolerable comfort, because shel- 

 tered. The doo-s crouched under the boats, or what- 

 ever else afforded a shelter, while we, human beings, 

 stayed within doors. The wind continued at S. W. 

 true (all directions in this journal are true) ; the barom- 

 eter fell to 29.30 at 36°, and the temperature rose to 

 33°. If this blow does not sweep us to the northward 

 again, which I very much fear it will do, it will do us 

 good in two ways : break up the ice and improve our 

 traveling. 



July 7 th, Thursday. — Had dinner at midnight. The 

 wind freshened a little, the temperature fell to 30.5°, and 



