NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 73 



urges to more favorable shifts and expedients. 

 If, therefore, our arrangements for the first night's 

 lodging on land should seem somewhat novel, or 

 even unheard of before, let it be remembered that 

 sad necessity drove us to this device. 



If our frail tent with a few yards of torn sails 

 stretched over us cannot shield us from the 

 drenching rain, something else can. Most of us, 

 on that sad and sorrowful night, got into empty 

 casks ; some were oil, others water or bread 

 casks ; it mattered not what, if we could only be 

 protected from the violence of the storm, or rest 

 in some place, instead of making the icy earth 

 our bed. 



With one head of the cask knocked out, and 

 resting upon its bilge, one or two would get into 

 each cask, and find within it quite a dry retreat. 

 At the same time, a fire was kept burning not 

 far from the open heads of the several casks, 

 placed in a circle around the fire, and thus we 

 were made as comfortable, perhaps, as our cir- 

 cumstances would permit. This was our first 

 night's experience on land. 



The next day, arrangements were made to 

 form parties of exploration. We knew not 

 where we were. Of this, however, we were 

 quite certain — that we were north of the straits ; 

 but upon what part of the arctic coast we were 

 cast away, we could not tell. 



