CHAPTER XIV. 



BENNETT ISLAND. 



16 July — 5 August, 1881. 



Nearer View of the Island. — A Narrow Escape from Drowning. — 

 Open Water in Various Directions. — Crimson Snow. — Perplex- 

 ing Views of the Island. — Land or Water? — Making for the 

 Land. — Impassable Roads. — Needle Ice. — Walrus. — Rotten 

 Ice. — Confusion of the Moving Ice. — Clear Weather and New 

 Views. — Recourse to Boats. — Fearful Work. — The Constant 

 Change of the Ice. — Drifting Away from the Island. — How Re- 

 lief is called. — Sudden Discovery of a Cliff. — A Rush for the 

 Island. — A Terrible Landing. — Taking Possession of Bennett 

 Island. — Plan of Operation. — Assignment of Work. — Geolog- 

 ical Foundation of the Island. — Tidal Observations. — Reconnois- 

 sance by Mr. Dunbar. — Coal on the Island. — Mr. Chipp sent on 

 an Expedition. — Return of Mr. Dunbar. — His Report. — Disa- 

 greeable Weather. — Return of Mr. Chipp. — Record made for 

 Deposit. — The Cold Storm. — Shooting of Dogs. 



July l§th, Saturday. — By 12.30 a. m. we had made 

 a good mile from our camp, and halted for dinner. The 

 weather continued bright and pleasant, and a few cir- 

 rus clouds were all that could be observed. The island 

 shows more plainly than yesterday, but no water could 

 be seen. At two a. m. resumed our march, and advanced 

 everything another good half a mile by 5.30 a. m. Here 

 there was but a poor place to camp, and, as I was closely 

 occupied with getting sights, I sent Mr. Dunbar ahead 

 to choose a place. He informed me that a quarter of a 

 mile ahead there was a good place, and that, though 



