698 THE VOYAGE OF THE JE ANNETTE. 



Cut up the McClintock dingy for fire - wood. After 

 supper I could find no chance to go ahead, and I there- 

 fore determined to pipe down and make an early start 

 in the morning. We had broiled seal and a taste of 

 murre apiece for supper. We then set to work reduc- 

 ing our luggage to a small compass. Got rid of our 

 knapsacks, and put all our clothing together in bags. 

 This reduces the number of packages, and materially 

 assists us in stowing the first cutter. Supper at six- 

 Turn to at 7.30. Shoot Prince and Pilgarlic. Lose 

 Smike, Armstrong, Wolf, Dick. Two miles by 9.30. 

 Halt and camp. Coffee giving out. Tea for dinner in- 

 stead. 



August 9th, Tuesday. — Called all hands at five a. m. 

 Breakfasted at six A. m. Turned to at seven. Tem- 

 perature 26°. Loaded up sleds, and dragged them and 

 the boats about one quarter of a mile over the ice, and 

 then were able to float the boats. Nearly caught the 

 first cutter between two closing pieces of ice. Short 

 fleet, then drag again, and at 11.30 had made good 

 south about two miles. Halted for dinner. Twenty 

 fathoms. Turned to at 12.30 p. m., floated boats, and 

 then, by a miraculous piece of good fortune, were able 

 with one hitch to make a good five-mile stretch afloat. 

 The hitch occurred by the closing in of a narrow open- 

 ing through which I was desirous of pushing the boats. 

 Five minutes earlier and the opening would have served 

 us, but just as we got up the chance was gone. The 

 ice seemed about to close also astern of us, and we had 

 to make a very lively scramble up the side of a big floe, 

 and throw our provisions out with all speed. Then the 

 whaleboat's people had to lend us a hand to drag our 

 boat up this steep incline, which was a hard job. How- 

 ever, it was done, and we proceeded, and when the 



