CHAPTER XII. 



Fighting Field Ice. 



no sunshine — ramming ice pans — laying to in field ice all 

 night — approaching salisbury and nottingham islands — 

 the neptune's propeller broken — desolate appearance 

 of nottingham. 



Where arctic ice pans crush and flow 

 In eternal winter ; and the snow, 

 As ancient as the rocks it shrouds, 

 Knows no melting ; and the clouds 

 Forever hide the sun. 



Wcfj^lpE left Stupart's Bay on the evening of Friday, 22nd August, 

 <M'l\ /! just one month from the hour of leaving Halifax. We 

 VI j% H had been in Hudson Strait since August 5th, or seven- 

 t.^J^l fc een days, and had met with bad weather most of the 

 time. There were but few really rough days, but it was ever 

 changing, raining one hour, snowing the next, and partly fine the 

 next. We had experienced no positively fine days. The sun was 

 not visible on an average of once in two days, and generally made 

 its appearance but for a short time on each occasion. We found no 

 cod either at Ashe's or Stupart's, but some fine trout were caught in 

 the streams of fresh water running into the Strait, and into which 

 they had found their way from the sea. Reindeer were seen inland, 

 and the interpreter, Mr. Lane, captured a walrus, the heart of which 

 made us an excellent breakfast. Ducks were plentiful, many of 

 which were served on the ship's table. 



The scene at Stupart's harbour, on the afternoon (August 22nd) 

 we left it, was very remarkable. The shores near to us were lined 

 with large pans of ice, left high and dry by the wind and tide. On 



