156 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Ociobb* 



the runner, the tenons of the uprights from being fixtures, 

 make the sledge too rigid and do not admit of enough 

 freedom for passing the rough ice. During the whole 

 of the time I was subsequently away the sledges stood 

 exceedingly well, and among very heavy and bad ice, 

 the uprights being unsupported except by the lashings, 

 and the runner being kept out in its place by a spare 

 batten used as a lever. 



' Crossing Black Cliff Bay, there was a large patch of 

 new ice, with no snow on it, which evidently showed 

 where the heavy floes had separated during the gale. 

 I sounded this with an ice-chisel and found it quite 

 strong enough to sledge over, congratulating myself 

 on the rapid progress I was making towards the cliffs 

 ahead. My triumph was short-lived, for as we got 

 well into the middle, I observed the ice bending as we 

 proceeded, and just as I turned round to order an alter- 

 ation of course towards the old ice between us and the 

 land the second sledge broke through. Beyond the 

 discomfort of a damp sleeping-bag and a stiff lower- 

 robe, I am happy to say nothing of • moment resulted, 

 though, from the dogs being very much frightened, it 

 was with some difficulty we hauled the sledge out. 

 The remainder of the afternoon was passed in finding 

 our way over and through the hummocks, with deten- 

 tions caused by the constant breaking down of several 

 of the dogs, one of which I had on the sledge the 

 greater part of the day. 



c September 24:th. — On examining the dogs in the 

 morning, I found one so utterly useless and so ill, that 

 I gave orders to kill it, which reduced the number to 

 twelve. 





