PASSAGE THROUGH THE ICE 87 



soon found the tent. It was empty, Mr. Leffingwell and Dr. 

 Howe having gone up to the station. While I was drying my 

 clothes they returned, and their joy was great at the good news 

 I brought. 



We started at once for the ship, but it blew too hard to pull 

 the boat across, so we beached her on the sand-spit, got a long 

 line, and commenced towing her round. It was hard work, the 

 sea was running high, and the water was shoal. At 8.30 we 

 gave it up, hauled the boat up on the sand-spit, and walked back 

 to the ship. We arrived just opposite, and sang out for a boat, 

 but it was against the wind, and for nearly two hours we stood 

 there in our wet clothes with a strong wind blowing from the 

 east, howling for some one to come and fetch us. At last the 

 watchman saw our plight and came over. He had a bad 

 quarter of an hour, as we were all three in no amiable mood, 

 being wet, tired, cold, and very hungry. The crew started at 

 once to get some of the gear on board which we had brought 

 ashore on Dead Man's Island, while two went out for the boat 

 with longer lines. 



Tuesday, September 4. Weighed anchor at 6 A.M., came out 

 of the lagoon without any misfortune, and anchored amongst 

 the fleet. As the U.S. R.C. Thetis was leaving, we went on 

 board to bid our friends a last good-bye. They have been very 

 good to us, and Captain Hamlet promised us to look after the 

 affairs of the expedition at home. On board the whalers every- 

 body was talking about Captain Hamlet and about the fines 

 which the masters and officers of the ships had had to pay, but 

 although they could not see why all at once Uncle Sam wanted 

 to interfere with the idyllic conditions which had till then 

 existed on board the whalers, they all agreed that Captain 

 Hamlet had done his duty in a most gentlemanly way, and 

 that he was in every respect a fine fellow and an honour to his 

 country. 



As it was impossible for us to persuade Captain Cottle to 

 start that day, we did the next best thing, went on board the 

 Belvedere where we spent the evening with him and his 

 officers and had a very nice time. McAllister, one of the 

 sailors from the Thetis, did not want to enter the Arctic after 

 all, as we told the crew that we should stay three winters there, 

 assuming that we got some more food. We now hope we are 



