21 



Wednesday, July the 21st* A party of us went out on the 

 ice for the purpose of amusing ourselves. We had not walked 

 far when we discovered several ponds of very fine fresh water. 

 Having sent intelligence of this to the captain, he imme- 

 diately ordered out some of the men to fill the water-casks. 

 It not only tasted very well, but answered admirably for every 

 culinary purpose. In some of these ponds we observed a 

 small fish, to which they give the name of Miller's Thumbs. 



Thursday, the 22d. Availing ourselves of a fair wind, 

 which sprung up this morning, we took in the ice-anchors, 

 and set sail in company with our consorts. 



Two o'clock, P. M. Forcing our way through very heavy 

 ice, got several very severe knocks. Obliged to keep the 

 pumps going day and night. 



Friday, July 23d. Still forcing our way through the ice ; 

 wind fair ; weather uncommonly fine. 



Saturday, July 24th. The breeze has nearly died away ; 

 weather continues fine. About twelve o'clock we got an- 

 chored to an island of ice. Lost sight of the George. Fired 

 a gun, which was answered in a few minutes. The captain 

 supposes them to be about a league a-head. 



Sunday, 25th. The George having made a signal for get- 

 ting under way, we loosed our anchors, and set sail. In 

 about an hour we got up with her. 



This day, while sailing through straggling ice, one of 



the men on the quarter-deck observed, at a few yards distance, 

 a silver bear and her two young cubs. The captain imme- 

 diately ordered the jolly-boat to be lowered, and muskets, 

 pistols, cutlasses, &c. to be got in readiness. All things 

 being prepared, Mr. Fidler, Mr. Cockerell, the first mate, 

 with one or two more, set out in pursuit of them. We were 

 all leaning over the deck, waiting with the greatest anxiety 

 for the interesting scene that we expected to witness. They 

 had not got many yards from the vessel, when I beheld a very 

 affecting sight: the mother, observing their approach, and 

 aware of their intention, set up a most doleful cry, and pre- 

 sently clasped her two young ones within her two fore-paws. 

 First she would look at one, then at another, and again resume 

 her piteous cry. Perceiving the men to approach still nearer, 

 she got them on her back, and dived under water to a consi- 

 derable distance ; when exhausted, she made *o the ice for 

 shelter. This she did several successive times. The gen- 

 tlemen who went out for the purpose of shooting her, were 

 so justly affected at the sight, that they humanely returned to 

 the ship without discharging their muskets. Still, however, 



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