BENNETT ISLAND. 



665 



Before getting under way 

 got fresh bearings. The ex- 

 treme points were found to 

 bear as follows: S. 87° W. and 

 N. 18° W., both magnetic, 

 and the low point at which I 

 headed, west (magnetic). 

 Though the weather was 

 bright and pleasant, a fog- 

 bank was in the eastern hori- 

 zon and threatened to advance 

 upon us. In order to give 

 this new island a chance to see 

 the " Stars and Stripes " be- 

 fore the fog shut in, our colors 

 were displayed. 



For one and three quarters 

 of a mile we advanced over a 

 good road, and then came to 

 an opening with large and 

 small blocks of ice, but yet 

 water enough to permit a fer- 

 ry. The ice was all in mo- 

 tion, and as everything might 

 change favorably before we 

 were ready to cross, no use- 

 less labor was indulged in by 

 getting ready bridges or fer- 

 rying pieces. At 11.50 p. m. 

 all our sleds and boats were 

 up. At ten the fog had cov- 

 ered us and shut in the land, 

 while an easterly breeze sprang 

 up that changed our sensations 

 from those of uncomfortable 



N 



