34 CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



offered to let us have a chain. It was too heavy for our little 

 vessel, but it could be used, and so we were again provided with 

 reliable ground tackle. Commander Werlish was very kind, 

 and I spent a pleasant evening in his and Mrs. Werlish's 

 company. 



We started afresh on June 26 at n A.M., and came out from 

 Dutch Harbour with a very light breeze. We had head-winds, 

 but as the sea was very smooth at first, we made fine progress 

 toward the north-east. Towards nightfall we saw the splendid 

 volcanoes of Unimack Island at a distance of nearly seventy 

 miles, and, judging by the look of the weather, we might expect 

 a S.E. wind. 



But the northerly wind continued ; its strength increased, 

 the weather became cloudy and wet, the sea rose, and for 

 many days we kept running in the short choppy waves of 

 Behring Sea, making only very poor progress, while the 

 ship's course made our hearts ache. This continued until 

 Sunday, July i, when we got a calm, with clear sky and fine 

 weather. It was quite warm, and the only thing needed to 

 complete our happiness was a little wind blowing our way. It 

 came on the same day at 10 P.M., and with every piece of 

 canvas spread, and all of it trimmed as nicely as possible, the 

 Duchess of Bedford slipped through the water at a speed of 

 four miles an hour. 



Mr. Edwards continued to have slighter attacks of malaria 

 at intervals, and we clearly saw that we should have to send 

 him home from Port Clarence. This was no great matter, for 

 though he was a good sailor and a pleasant companion, a sailor 

 could be replaced ; but, unfortunately, Mr. Ditlevsen grew worse 

 and worse. He did not complain, but we could see how he 

 suffered. Dr. Howe did not quite know what was the matter, 

 and though we still hoped that it might only be a passing illness, 

 it seemed serious and was destined to become worse. Mr. 

 Ditlevsen could not be replaced, either as a member of the 

 expedition or as a friend and a pleasant, considerate comrade. 

 Mr. Lemngwell and myself had some very serious talks about 

 the case, and both of us were distressed about Ditlevsen's sick- 

 ness, which meant so much for the expedition. 



There was abundant animal life here, and we were having 

 some useful sport. Mr. Lemngwell was our crack shot, and 



