PASSAGE THROUGH THE ICE 89 



But the fog was thick, and we had to anchor at 3.30 P.M., as we 

 could not see to go any further. It was dead calm, and we 

 had to wait for a wind. It remained calm all the rest of the 

 day, and as we could not proceed, we went on board the 

 Belvedere to spend the time and thank Captain Cottle for the 

 welcome lift. 



Friday, September 7. Captain Cottle asked us to take a man, 

 Mr. H. T. Erie, with his Eskimo wife and two children, as far 

 east as Barter Island, and we got him, his boat, and some pro- 

 visions on board last night. He has lived in the country for a long 

 time and can act as a pilot, if we should be forced to go into the 

 lagoon at the back of Cross Island. This morning it was still 

 foggy and perfectly calm until 8 A.M., when a slight breeze, as 

 usual from N.E., made us weigh anchor and start. The wind 

 died away again, and we had to anchor within half a mile of 

 the Belvedere. The current was setting westward rather 

 strongly, but not nearly as hard as it did at Point Barrow. 



About 10.30 the wind came back again, of course from N.E., 

 and we started once more, this time for good. Captain Cottle 

 also got under way, standing northward to fall in with the 

 whales which he thought he might find when going westward 

 along the ice. The wind is not quite as contrary as usual ; we 

 can get a slant standing out for one hour and in for two or 

 three hours, and we are making fine headway. We are in the 

 best of spirits, for now we can get a fine base for our first year's 

 work, even if we cannot make Minto Inlet. We are opti- 

 mistic, and most of us think that in spite of the lateness of the 

 season, in spite of wind and current, we shall still be able to reach 

 our destination. The north-east wind is rather warmer here, 

 and is melting the thick coat of ice which formed all over the 

 rigging during our stay at the inhospitable Point Barrow. It 

 is dangerous to walk along the deck, as pieces of ice come 

 tumbling down from above with a loud crash on deck. Every 

 now and then a poor dog gets in the way of the falling ice, and 

 his yelps and the care he afterwards takes when walking along 

 deck tell plainly enough that it hurts. The nights are getting 

 long now, but our last view in the fading daylight showed that 

 there was open water ahead; so we kept on, and are now sailing 

 through the darkness, in happy ignorance of what may be 

 ahead, trusting to lead, look-out, and luck. 



