LAND ON RETURN REEF. 247 



floes, we landed upon one which lay aground, moored 

 the boats with the pickaxe, the only substitute for an 

 anchor we possessed, and cooked breakfast with 

 spirits of wine. Well drenched with spray, exposed 

 to the biting blast, with the temperature below 

 freezing, and our only footing ice, it will not be 

 doubted that, as a simple question of inconvenience, 

 our discomfort this morning was very great ; and, to 

 increase the wretchedness of our condition, a large 

 submerged tongue of ice broke off from the floe, and 

 rising up under the boats, well-nigh capsized them, 

 and much wetted us. After drinking our cocoa, 

 which, in our benumbed state, was perfect nectar, we 

 embarked the pickaxe and ourselves, and resumed the 

 oars, until the wind became favourable enough to 

 permit of hoisting sail. Among the pack some large 

 and high hummocks were observable ; the haze 

 rendered their outlines undefined, and some cmious 

 appearances were presented : one mass, in particular, 

 looked like a huge pile of gothic architecture. 



Soon after noon we landed on the Return Reef, 

 near its eastern extreme, to dine and dry our clothes ; 

 the spray and drizzle having drenched all thoroughly. 

 Plenty of driftwood lay around, and we speedily 

 raised a huge fire, cooked and dispatched dinner, and 

 with reinvigorated spirits, were preparing to proceed, 



