FROM THE SEPARATION OP THE SHIPS. 75 



as, in fitting the screw, something had been overlooked, 

 which took us some hours to rectify. The Hansa had 

 in the meantime worked herself some miles nearer to us, 

 and now lay in the floating ice. The weather was beau- 

 tiful and clear, and there was a dead calm ; so that with 

 the speed of 5i knots, which we made with a 501b. pres- 

 sure, we reached our friends at about eight o'clock. The 

 ice-spikes which encircled our bay to the north-east, 

 stretching far to the east, and towards which we were 

 driving, resolved themselves as we approached into 

 small, and very small, brashes, between which the ship 

 easily made her way or forced it, though not without 

 some gratings and slight working of the steam. Oar 

 farther advance was unimpeded. The ice- strewn sea 

 now presented a peculiarly interesting spectacle. It had 

 assumed by the reflection of the sky, which had been 

 heavily-clouded for some hours, an almost black hue, in 

 strong contrast with the colour of the ice, whilst the north- 

 westerly horizon shone with the brightest yellow tints. 

 At eight we were near the Hansa; both ships hoisted 

 their flags. The Hansa gave expression to her joy by 

 firing her guns ; but we, not being prepared, had to return 

 the salute with our fowling-pieces. Greetings re-echoed 

 from one side to the other, as we went round the Hansa, 

 and universal joy reigned on board both ships. 



We then took herein tow, and steered back the same 

 way by which we had come, until some slight disorder in 

 the machinery obliged us to stop, when both ships were 

 again put under sail. 



Meanwhile Captain Hegemann, Dr. Buchholz, and Dr. 

 Laube had come on board, and the captains consulted 

 together regarding the next steps to be taken. The 



