BENNETT ISLAND. 675 



The sun now tried to break through the fog, and I 

 hoped for a clearing; but at 1.30 p. m., when we turned 

 to, the fog was as thick as ever. The situation had im- 

 proved somewhat, for another floe piece had now come 

 along, and a few loose pieces offered a convenient 

 bridge. Away we went, but the floe piece was a small 

 one, and we soon reached its edge. Here was another 

 confusion, but we could make out a larger floe ahead. 

 Everything was embarked on an ice-cake for a ferry- 

 boat, and a hauling line run to the floe. By great ef- 

 fort we got our piece clear by four p. m. and commenced 

 to haul over. Suddenly everybody gave a shout, 

 " Look ! " Away up over our heads 2,500 (?) feet 

 towered the land, and we were sweeping past it like a 

 mill-stream. Hurriedly sounded in eighteen and one 

 half fathoms. Soon our floe was reached. Away we 

 jumped our sleds and boats, and, seeing two or three 

 large cakes nearly together, ran everything rapidly 

 over until we at last stood at the base of the ice-cap. 

 It was a narrow squeeze, for the men with the tents 

 and remaining loose provisions on their shoulders had 

 hard work to run fast enough to get on the last cake 

 before the other cakes were swept away. Now that 

 we were on the last cake our situation became critical. 

 We could not get up on the ice-foot, for ten feet of 

 water and small lumps intervened, and we were sweep- 

 ing along by it at the rate of three miles an hour. Our 

 cake was none of the strongest, and in the swirling and 

 running masses, and small bergs, I feared we should be 

 broken up and separated. It was an anxious moment. 

 The southwest cape of the island was not half a mile 

 away, and this was our last chance. Over two weeks 

 of dragging and working to reach this island seemed 

 about to be thrown away. I soon noticed our cake begin 



