IN SEAKCH OF THE EIRA. 157 



tributed in no small degree to the happy result ; so 

 that when we escaped with only a sprung stern-post, 

 we considered that we had got off very cheaply, and 

 put back to Altglaubigen Bay to repair damages and 

 start afresh. As soon as the "Willem Barents heard 

 of the accident she came down the strait, and with 

 the assistance of her carpenter and one from the 

 Kara, our own men were very soon able to rig a jury 

 stern-post and rudder. 



It really seemed as if all the vessels in these seas 

 had agreed to rendezvous at Altglaubigen Bay ; for 

 whilst we were preparing for another start north, 

 the Dutch Meteorological Expedition arrived in two 

 steamers to try and get through the strait into the 

 Kara Sea, and so on to Dickson's Haven, where they 

 proposed to winter. When we came away they were 

 still trying, and would not get through this year, 1 

 am sure. From them we heard of the war in Egypt, 

 and many other items of interesting news. 



All being at length ship-shape on August 3d, the 

 Willem Barents took her carpenter back and got 

 under way, intending now to try to get to Ice Haven 

 round the north of Nova Zemla, Avhilst we prepared 

 to make an immediate start, place the depot at 

 Suchoi Noss, another at some point further north, 

 and then make a dash for Franz Josef Land, taking 

 the Martha with us or not, as circumstances might 

 dictate. After the Barents left we watched the 

 pretty little craft beating out of the strait, when she 



