CAPTAIN- DIXOX^S LOG. 137 



As Dr. Cook had no authority to make a bargain that 

 would recompense us for our loss sustained by leaving the 

 fishing-grounds, or the risk that would be incurred by us in 

 making a departure from our regular fishing voyage, I hardly 

 knew what to do. Common humanity required that we 

 should go to the relief of our fellows in distress, while on 

 the other hand our voyage was likely to be a prosperous 

 one if we stuck to our fishing. We had a crew of eighteen 

 men, all on shares, and I felt as though they should have 

 a voice in the matter before I would make any departure 

 from our voyage. Sukkertoppen was ninety-five miles from 

 Holsteinborg. The harbor was small, and the approach to 

 it was encompassed by rocks. Our charts were little better 

 than none. There were numerous icebergs all along the 

 route, and a dense fog prevailed most of the time, with a 

 very strong, irregular current setting along the coast, and in 

 and out of the fiords. The land was strange to us (none of 

 us having seen that part of the coast before*), and if anything 

 should happen to our vessel we should have to forfeit all 

 right to our insurance on the vessel and the fish we had 

 caught. I told Dr. Cook that I would go on board and 

 consult with the crew, and if I decided to go to Sukker- 

 toppen I would run up off Holsteinborg and set the flag for 

 him to come off in his boat. We left Holsteinborg about 

 2 A. M., August 17, and arrived at Xepisat at 5 A. m. I 

 called the crew into the cabin and explained the case to 

 them, and asked them if we should go to Sukkertoppen. 

 One of the crew asked me if I was willing to go, and I said I 

 was. He said then, "I am willing to go, for you have more 

 at stake than we have." That seemed to be the opinion of 

 all the crew, and we got under way and started for Hol- 

 steinborg with a light air from the eastward. At 9 a. m. we 

 reached the mouth of the fiord, and set our flag (being then 

 about eight miles from Holsteinborg). Soon after leaving 



