174 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
it was not always of the same brilliancy, but that it 
twinkled so that the upper part of it vanished 
altogether for a moment; it then instantaneously 
brightened up as splendidly as before; this twink- 
ling went on in quick succession, during the whole 
time the column appeared. Its breadth was about 
equal to the sun’s diameter, and its height, or 
altitude, when in its greatest splendour, was be- 
tween four and five degrees. 
Friday, 11th. — The dog belonging to one of 
the officers of the Griper, which has been men- 
tioned some time ago, as having been in the habit 
of paying visits to the wolves, or at all events on 
being on very familiar terms with them, has been 
missing since the 2d inst. He was supposed, for 
the first day or two, to have remained only a little 
longer than usual to gratify his propensities, 
and that, after his desires had been satiated, cold 
and hunger would induce him to return. But the 
length of time that he has now been away, leaves, I 
think, very little hope that we shall see him any more. 
It is most probable that the wolves decoyed him 
into one of their dens, and there destroyed him ; 
some, however, are of opinion that he lost his way 
in returning to the ships, and ultimately perished 
by the cold ; but as it is a subject not worthy of 
any great speculation, I shall leave it in uncer- 
tainty. It is possible, indeed, that when the snow 
melts in the spring, we may fall in with some 
remains of him that will tend to show the manner 
in which he was lost. The weather to-day, and for 
some days past, has been very fine; from ten o’clock 
in the forenoon, until two in the afternoon, there is 
