104 



Our North Land. 



him ; with the keen air biting the nose off him, and with thoughts 

 of Saturday's blinding snow-storms tormenting him, he yielded, and 

 acknowledged, and admitted, and said : " Yes, gentlemen, there is 

 field ice, and lots of it ; but this is an exceptionally bad season ;" 

 and so it was. 



There were many surmises as to the identity of the vessels in 

 the ice, but nearly all were agreed that one of them was the out- 

 going Hudson's Bay Company's ship, and afterwards it proved to 

 be so. 



While at Nottingham, the engineers and firemen were engaged 

 for three days shipping a new propeller. The task was a most 

 difficult one, but it was accomplished mcst successfully — thanks to 

 the skill and pains of Chief Engineer, William Ruxton, and his able 

 second, Mr. Bridge. 



