222 



CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



and the floes smaller and smaller, while owing to the hazy 

 weather we could see absolutely nothing ahead. After about two 

 hours' work among much water and little ice we had to give in, 

 and we camped at 11.30 A.M., before the floes got so small that 



WE CAMPED ON ACCOUNT OF OPEN WATER. 



it would hardly be safe to pitch a tent on them. The dark 

 haze to N.E. round through the north and down to W.N.W. 

 told us plainly that there was water and plenty of it. Shortly 

 after camping we took a sounding, but with the same result as 

 before, 620 metres and no bottom. 



All this water and the way in which the ice is broken up 

 both seem difficult to explain. The floes have just separated 

 north and south and have not changed to the east or west at 

 all, as we can see points on one side of a crack fitting in with a 

 corresponding bay on the other. The floes here have an average 

 thickness of about one and a half foot above water, and the edge 

 of the break is perfectly perpendicular. 



Poor " Unimack " has not been in harness to-day and he 

 can hardly stand now. He is walking behind Mr. LefHngweH's 

 sledge, but is so weak that he often falls, and, being unable to 

 raise himself, Mr. Leffingwell returns and helps him to his feet 

 again. Poor brute, he has worked hard for us and we are very 

 fond of him, but there is no hope for him. The sooner he dies 



