A LIVELY SCENE. 185 



to find a path along the face of the cliff; but failing 

 in this, Morton determined to leave part of the 

 provisions in " cache" and proceed with a lighter 

 load. The cape round which they were travelling, 

 and on the other side of which lay the open water, 

 was extremely bold, and the ice-ledge at the end 

 of it was barely three feet wide; so they were 

 obliged to unloose the dogs, and drive them forward 

 alone, then tilted the sledge on one runner, and 

 thus pushed it past the worst place. 



Here the ice on the sea was partly broken up, 

 and a strong tide was running from the southward. 

 The night before it had been running from the 

 north. As they advanced, the channel became still 

 more open, and after passing the cape they saw noth- 

 ing but open water, with innumerable wild sea- 

 birds of every description flying overhead, or 

 disporting in the pools. Let it be observed here, 

 however, that this was the open water of a strait 

 or channel, not the great Arctic Sea, about the 

 probable existence of which we have been writing. 

 Upon the ice-masses near them numerous seals 

 were seen basking. 



One thing that struck them much here was, that 

 although strong north winds, amounting to a gale 

 at times, had been blowing for several days, no ice 

 had been brought down from the north into the 

 channel, along the shore of which they travelled. 

 Thick, damp fogs prevailed, preventing them from 

 seeing far in advance at any time. 



