1876 JOURNEY ACROSS HALL'S BASIN. 139 



drifted, I let them sleep on, while Coppinger and my- 

 self walked to Cape Baird to examine the ice in Lady 

 Franklin's Strait. 



' It was getting very misty, but we were in time. 

 All the ice that was out yesterday is back again close 

 to the shore ; it seems quite fast between Bellot Island 

 and ourselves. 



4 Saw two ships lying in Discovery Bay. The 

 " Alert " being down made me think that they might 

 be waiting for us ; so we built a cairn and went back ; 

 had lunch and started by boat through dense rubble 

 for a short distance. 



4 Worked steadily -from 7 A.M. until 5 A.M. (14th), 

 with two halts for food. 



' I was very anxious to get over in one march, but 

 it corning on thick, and Doctor Coppinger representing 

 it as advisable for the sake of the men not to go on, 

 we camped. 



' We could see the " Alert " quite plainly when the 

 fog lifted. 



' We have been at work twenty-two hours ; no 

 boating ; all dragging. 



' Uth. While we were having breakfast, prepara- 

 tory to a start, we heard a cheer, and running out met 

 Commander Markham and his party, who had left the 

 " Alert " to come to our assistance. They brought us a 

 supply of most tempting provisions, fearing that we 

 might be in want. 



1 Soon afterwards we started in their company, and 

 reached the " Alert " without further accident. 



' Probable distance travelled from Polaris Bay to 

 Bellot Island, sixty miles.' 



