746 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANKETTE. 



to be seen in large quantities, but I hope it is a loose, 

 navigable pack, and one we can work if necessary at 

 night. Uncomfortable enough as life in the boat nor- 

 mally is, it becomes absolutely horrible when, at night, 

 in a strong wind we suddenly encounter streams of drift- 

 ing ice. Unable to see, wet, cold, and wretched from 

 want of sleep, we grapple aimlessly with our foe and 

 try to overcome him. 



I ordered one pound of meat to be served out per 

 man, and at 4.45 p. m. we all sat down to a delicious 

 meal of fried deer meat and tea. At eight I intend 

 to repeat the operation, and meanwhile I shall send our 

 hunters out for more game. An elephant's tusk was 

 found by Alexey, and a small number of shells by Mr. 

 Collins, about three or four feet above the sea-level, in 

 the face of the bluff. Bartlett saw a flock of ptarmi- 

 gan and killed three with one bullet. Two went into 

 a cleft in the cliff, and were inaccessible. Mr. Newcomb 

 shot another. 



At eight p. m. we sat down to our supper proper, and 

 a second portion of deer meat was served out to all 

 hands — a little more than one pound each. This 

 gave us a royal meal and finished the deer, except his 

 bones, which we make soup of for dinner to-morrow. 

 We have thus consumed since dinner-time eighty pounds 

 meat alone — no bones — a little more than two and 

 one fourth pounds each, and are feeling comfortable 

 and warm. Wet bags and wet clothing are forgotten 

 in face of hot meat and hot tea. After three attempts 

 we got a dry place for our tents, and at 9.30 p. m. when 

 we went to bed for a long night's sleep, our lesser dis- 

 comforts seemed to fade away before the warmth and 

 security which Semenovski Island afforded. The wind 

 had freshened considerably, and was blowing half a 



