668 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



one eighth mile distant, bearing west. Turn to at 1.45 

 A. m. Very ugly time crossing mess. Little or noth- 

 ing accomplished in distance by six A. m., our usual 

 supper time. Conclude to work all night. Land sud- 

 denly shows plainly, and we seem about one mile from 

 it. Moss plainly seen on the face of the cliffs. Go 

 ahead at eight A. M., and from that time to noon, fright- 

 ful work : ice opening, swirling, swinging us off from 

 land, separating our things in spite of us. Rain sets in 

 and continues in showers. Get our things together and 

 dine at 12.45 p. m. Getting our reckoning straight 

 at the expense of rest. Under canvas to avoid rain. 

 Apparently we are drawing into a bay making an in- 

 dentation on south side of island. Rain ceases. Turn 

 to at two p. m. ; go ahead. Simply fearful work which 

 I can never forget, and ending at six p. m. in a fog 

 which hid everything. Got on a piece of good ice and 

 pitched camp. Bear meat for supper. Twenty-four 

 hours since we commenced work. Wind S. E. Tem- 

 perature 30.5°. Tired, cold, wet, hungry, sleepy, dis- 

 appointed, and disgusted ; but ready to tackle it again 

 to-morrow. Piped down at nine p. m. This affords me 

 a chance to return to our natural way of living, work- 

 ing by day and sleeping at night. 



July 2Qth, Tuesday. — During the night I was fre- 

 quently awake, and could hear the wind getting up, 

 and occasionally the rain pattered down. As I gave 

 everybody a good long rest, it was eight A. m. before 

 all hands Avere called. I then found a northeast gale 

 blowing, a thick fog, and only unsatisfactory glimpses of 

 the land now and then obtainable. The ice to the east- 

 ward of us was all in motion, and much water and drift- 

 ice pieces lay between us and the land. Several of the 

 watch declared that during the night, when they saw 



