720 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



A freshening N. W. breeze. Temperature 26° at six 

 p. m. Land showed between south and west. Evi- 

 dently we are more to the eastward than before. The 

 bearings of the extreme of land showing are 58° E. 

 and N. 71° W., both magnetic. Toward eight p. m. 

 lanes of water could be seen between us and the land, 

 and running parallel with the coast, but we were sepa- 

 rated from them by a mass of confused hummocks and 

 water gaps, over which it is simply impossible for us to 

 drag our boats and provisions. 



August 28th, Sunday. — Called all hands at five. 

 Breakfasted at 6.30. Wet fuel caused the delay. Light 

 snow falling. Wind N. W. Temperature 27°. Seem- 

 ingly more to the eastward in the brief glimpse w r e get 

 of the land. Divine service at ten. The ice seemed to 

 be loose, and here and there swirling around. Next 

 the land quite a lead showed, and numerous unconnected 

 ponds formed below us and it. Hope for a chance after 

 all. At eleven Mr. Dunbar came to me and said he could 

 see the open water to the eastward. Going to the top 

 of the nearest hummock, I saw what I took to be the 

 open sea ; but shortly after, Mr. Dunbar came to my 

 tent and informed me that it was land. Land it was, 

 sure enough, and bearing N. 70° E. (magnetic), while 

 the extreme point of our old land bore south (mag- 

 netic). Apparently, then, we are between the two isl- 

 ands, — Faddejew and New Siberia, — and our being 

 jammed is accounted for. In one respect we are better 

 off, because nearer the Lena River ; but in another, I 

 do not like it, because no one can tell how long we may 

 be caught. 



And thus another weary day passed away. No seals 

 to amount to anything, and as shy as if they had been 

 hunted regularly. Our drift along the land, which was 



