PASSAGE THROUGH THE ICE 85 



There are great doings at Point Barrow ; the officers of the 

 Revenue Cutter are busy with charges against the whalers of 

 carrying women on board, and are investigating rumours of 

 cruelty towards the crew, which charges, however, seem to be 

 more or less unfounded. In true sailor fashion one man says 

 one thing, the next another, and they are so keen on getting 

 the captains fined, or worse, that many of the charges are 

 decided inventions. There are several sick people on board 

 the ships, who will be sent out in the Harald Dollar. 



Sunday, September 2. Foggy weather, and still blowing hard 

 from N.E. 



Although we are practically in winter quarters we cannot quite 

 give up all hopes of further progress, and went on board the 

 whaling vessels in order to inquire once more about the conditions 

 to the east. They all say the same thing once through the 

 ice which we can see, it would be plain sailing for the rest of 

 the way. I did not learn quite as much as I would have liked 

 to, as the ships had just got whisky on board, and that, of 

 course, was too tempting after the long period of enforced 

 abstinence, and everybody on board was in a state of more or 

 less perfect bliss. They were, however, extremely nice fellows, 

 and I hung about for a while watching the fun. One of the 

 captains, Mr. Cottle, S.S. Belvedere, told me that he would tow 

 us round the ice when he had got his provisions on board, 

 and told me to come out and anchor alongside his vessel, 

 to be ready to start as soon as an opportunity offered 

 itself. 



When I came back I found that Mr. Leffingwell and Dr. 

 Howe had gone across to the mainland to shoot ducks and 

 intended to remain there for a day or two. They would be on 

 the look-out for a signal from on board, in case we should have 

 hopes of going on. 



Our dogs are apparently feeling very well, they are getting 

 clean and fat. They seem to think that they own the whale 

 which we have hauled ashore, and eat of it to their heart's desire. 

 But let them eat ; we can always commence to save when we are 

 sure that we will have to stay here. 



Monday, September 3. Captain Cottle and Lieutenant 

 Hinckley came on board in the steam launch of the Thetis, 

 and to my great joy he repeated the promise he had given 



