IX THE BOATS. 719 



more chance of resuming our voyage than there was 

 yesterday. 



August 26th, Friday. — Called all hands at five. 

 Breakfasted at six. Calm. Ice tightly packed still. 

 Temperature 24° Used the last of our sugar at break- 

 fast. This may seem like a loss, but the announcement 

 received no attention whatever. During the forenoon 

 Bartlett shot a small seal, which we shall add to our 

 usual pemmican ration. Got a time sight: 147° 38' 

 45" E. 



Since the evening of the 22d I confess I have been 

 perfectly miserable for want of a smoke. This after- 

 noon, after dinner, Ericksen came to me, saying he had 

 noticed me going around without smoking, and he ten- 

 dered me a small packet of the precious article, tobacco. 

 I declined more than a pipeful, but he insisted upon my 

 taking more, saying they had enough for some days in 

 No. 6 tent. I sought oat the doctor and Nindemann, 

 and made them as happy as myself. And now, " Rich- 

 ard is himself again." Mr. Dunbar shot and secured a 

 seal, so we are in for a good supper. 



And so another weary clay dragged along. By seven 

 p. m. a light N. W. wind had freshened somewhat, and 

 while the ice seemed slacking, much water sky showed 

 to the southward and eastward, and the temperature, 

 which had got as high as 28° in the sun, now was at 

 26.5°. Still no chance to move, and so far as human 

 judgment can perceive, seven days have been utterly 

 lost by three hours' delay a week ago. 



August 27th, Saturday. — Called all hands at five. 

 Breakfasted at six.* A clear, bright morning, but tightly 

 packed ice. Light N. air. Temperature 24°. At noon 

 I got latitude, 75° 37' 28", showing two and a half miles 

 southing since the 22d, and thus another day passed. 



