IN THE BOATS. 707 



was falling thick ; no water which we could use was in 

 sight, and I therefore ordered the boats unloaded and 

 hauled out. We prepared for another night in our 

 wet bags, and hoped for a change on the morrow. 

 Day's work: three miles southwest (?) ; sounding, nine- 

 teen and a half fathoms. 



August 11th, Wednesday. — Called all hands at five. 

 Breakfasted at six; calm and light west air. Underway 

 at 7.15, and by 11.30 had made about six miles good, 

 on a southwest course, out of eight miles sailed. Here 

 we encountered a large Hoe, and hoping a narrow vein 

 of water running around it would widen, we got dinner. 

 By 12.45 p. m. it had widened, and we proceeded at 

 such a good rate that by 5.30 p. M. I think w r e had 

 made six miles more good (southwest). Instead of the 

 closely packed ice of yesterday, everything seemed to 

 have fallen apart by magic, and a light S. W. wind was 

 rapidly opening things before us. Saw an oogook on 

 the ice. Mr. Collins fired twice but missed him. Seals 

 plentiful in the neighborhood of our supper place. 

 Shots frequent, but no results. To the south, appear- 

 ance of land and fog and open water ; soundings in 

 sixteen fathoms. Under way again at 7.15, and till 

 9.30 made three miles good southwest. Total made 

 good for day fifteen miles (southwest). Camped. 



August 18th, Thursday. — Called all hands at five. 

 Breakfasted at six. Calm ; temperature 25°. Before 

 starting out a seal was shot and secured. Under way 

 at 7.10, but had such hard luck that by 9.30 we had 

 made only one mile west. Young ice bothered us very 

 much, and though we broke it through with poles our 

 progress was necessarily slow. I tried tracking the 

 boats, but that was no better. One man fell in the 

 water through the treacherous snow-crust and got wet 



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