722 THE VOYAGE OF THE JE ANNETTE. 



and we narrowly escaped being crushed. Very rapid 

 drift before the wind. I hope we are through the neck 

 of the strait, and may go on to-morrow. 



August 30th, Tuesday. — Called all hands at four 

 a. m. Broke camp and loaded the boats. Land in 

 sight, extreme point bearing S. 46° W. (magnetic). 

 Now what point is this ? Nothing can be seen of land 

 more southerly than this, and we can hardly have come 

 so far south during the night as to bring the southern 

 end of Faddejew Island on this bearing. Soundings in 

 five fathoms ; rapid drift southward. The ice was swirl- 

 ing around us at a great rate, and we were sweeping by 

 the land (probably five miles distant) at a good speed. 

 To launch and load boats in such a hell-gate was a tick- 

 lish thing, but I knew it would look less terrible when 

 we were once among the ice-blocks and went ahead. 



x\t 4.50 we were under way. Got breakfast in the 

 boats at 5.50. Weather bright and pleasant. Light, 

 variable air. Making south course in streams of drift 

 ice. Barometer 30.32 at 26°. Temperature 20°. The 

 bright sun was very warming and comfortable, and, 

 whilst we had it, we forgot the low temperature. Soon, 

 however, a fog spread over us and nearly hid the sun, 

 and at once the weather seemed raw and wretched. At 

 eleven a. m. the land was seen by me bearing west through 

 the streams of ice in which we were steering south, and 

 I at once decided to head for it. Our water spaces were 

 growing larger and larger, and apparently we were at 

 the edge of the ice at last, and at the open sea. I se- 

 lected the best looking floe piece I could see, and ran 

 alongside of it for five minutes to replenish the snow 

 supply. Sounded in four fathoms, and headed immedi- 

 ately thereafter for the cape or headland seen on a west 

 bearing. Until I can get sigh'ts, or have some other 



