PENDULUM ISLAND IN SIGHT. 275 



stood us in good stead, and we threaded our way easily 

 amongst them. 



By ten a.m., on the 1st of August, we had steamed 

 without interruption thirty-six miles, and were of course 

 so much nearer the coast; here a dense barrier pre- 

 vented our farther advance. Land was in sight (Pen- 

 dulum Island), which by a strong refraction seemed 

 much raised and transfio-ured. The same refraction also 

 showed us what appeared to be open water westwards. 

 Mr. Sengstacke was of opinion that it was only a few 

 nautical miles distant, but he soon saw his mistake. 

 That there was open water under the land, there was 

 scarcely a doubt ; but it was separated from us by an 

 icy barrier, several German miles broad. Under these 

 circumstances, the captain thought it better to keep our 

 post and wait for a change in the position of the ice.^ 



E,oss himself lays great stress upon the fact that, in the 

 ice, a little judgment and a little patience go farther 

 than advancing headlong, and often save much danger. 

 Here we increased our zoological collection by a fine 

 reddish Clio ; the dredging net was also let down at 224 

 fathoms, but brought up nothing but stones. 



Universal interest was raised by the mallemuckes 

 (Mergulus alle), which for some days had followed us in 

 flocks. Voraciousness is the- chief characteristic of these 

 birds ; and if a large solid piece of bacon is thrown into 

 the water, which they cannot swallow at a gulp, a dreadful 

 battle ensues ; sometimes two or three begin upon it at 

 different ends, working both with beak and claw. We 



' A glance at the chart will show that the Hansa, on her first 

 advance on the 22nd of July, was nearly on the same spot, but was ice- 

 blocked, and drifted to the south. 



T 2 



