VOYAGE OF THE "FOX." 



217 



freezing- point. I feel most keenly the difficulty of my position. We cannot afford to 

 lose many more days. 



" The men enjoy a game of rounders on the ice each evening-. Petersen and Chris- 

 tian are constantly on the look-out for seals, as well as Hobson and Young- occasionally. 

 If in good condition and killed instantaneously the seals float. Several have already been 

 shot. The liver fried with bacon is excellent. 



" Birds have become scarce. The few we see are returning southward. How anxiously 



BACK S GREAT FISH KIVER. 



I watch the ice, weather, barometer, and thermometer ! Wind from any other quarter 

 than south-east would oblige the floe-pieces to re-arrange themselves, in doing which 

 they would become loose, and then would be our opportunity to proceed. 



" 24th. Fine weather, with very light northerly winds. We have drifted seven miles 

 to the west in the last two days. The ice is now a close pack, so close that one may 

 walk for many miles over it in any direction by merely turning a little to the right or 

 left to avoid the small water spaces. My frequent visits to the crow's-nest are not in- 

 spiriting. How absolutely distressing this imprisonment is to me no one without similar 

 experience can form any idea. As yet the crew have but little suspicion how blighted our 

 prospects are. 

 108 



