160 ADVENTURES IN THE NORTHERN SEAS. 



The instinct of these people in finding their way in 

 a fog almost equals that of savages in traversing a 

 pathless forest ; but, for all that, the greatest risk 

 which these Arctic hunters run is that of being sur- 

 prised by fog among the ice when at a distance 

 from their vessel. The most usual expedient, when 

 practicable, is to go ashore and light a fire, and 

 await with what patience one can the abatement of 

 the fog. This, in my case, was out of the question, 

 as the inaccessible ice-cliffs of the great glacier were 

 the only shore within fifteen miles of us, and Ryk 

 Yse Island, which was the nearest land, would have 

 been as difficult to find as the sloop itself. 



When I got on board, Lord David's boat was 

 still out, so we fired repeated signals from our little 

 cannon, heavily charged, and with a wad of walrus 

 blubber to increase the report, but they did not re- 

 join us until after midnight. 



They had been close to Ryk Yse Island when 

 the fog came on, and had taken refuge there until 

 it somewhat abated, and allowed them to find their 

 way back. 



This fog did not seem to extend much above the 

 masthead, as the bright sun and the blue sky were 

 distinctly visible above the dense vapor which seem- 

 ed to float on the water ; it was also quite warm 

 during its continuance. 



We have now got pretty well reconciled to the 

 state of dirt, grease, noise, and irregular hours we 

 live in, always excepting the never-to-be-forgotten 



