THE MARCH OVER THE FROZEN OCEAN. 635 



cretion ; but when encamped, such serving out is to be done by 

 me. Respectfully, G. W. De Long, 



Lieutenant Commanding. 



Being somewhat backward in my writing, and hav- 

 ing a road marked out for half a mile ahead, I sent Mr. 

 Dunbar ahead, next the doctor with his road makers, 

 and then Melville and his haulers, while I remained be- 

 hind to write up my journal. 



At nine I started forward and met Aneguin coming 

 back in haste for a rifle, saying that Mr. Dunbar had 

 seen a bear. Getting to the front, I met Mr. Dun- 

 bar, who, sure enough, had encountered Bruin, and 

 like a prudent man, having nothing more danger- 

 ous than a boarding-pike, took to his heels. While 

 turning a sharp corner, he met the bear at thirty yards 

 distance, and, upon retreating, was followed in chase for 

 a short spell. The bear then sat down and looked at 

 him, and, while Mr. Dunbar was waiting for a rifle, 

 waited conveniently in the neighborhood, leaving only 

 as Aneguin with the weapon came in sight. Chase was 

 given, but with the usual result — nil. By one a. m., 



July 11th, Monday, everything was advanced one 

 and a half miles, and I was counting upon completing 

 another three miles this day, when a lead was found 

 open a quarter of a mile from our dinner camp. Every 

 time I stopped before midnight I could hear the soft 

 roar of water lapping against ice, and I w T as not much 

 surprised when w r ater was found close at hand. Turned 

 to at 1.50 a. m., and advanced everything to the lead by 

 3.50. The opening had widened considerably, and 

 several of them followed in close succession, requiring 

 ferrying and bridging, and at 6.40 a. m., when we 

 pitched camp, I am sorry to say we had advanced only 

 two miles altogether instead of three. 



