Chapter II. 



spanning ox." 



EDNESDAY, April 30th, was the origi- 

 nal clay named for our departure from 

 Dundee ; but owing to delay in the 

 U arrival of our coals, our sailing was put 

 off until Saturday, the 3rd of May. 



We were ready, and might easily have proceeded 

 to sea, on Friday, but the old sailors' superstition, 

 with which our crew was fully imbued, against sail- 

 ing on that day, deferred our departure until half- 

 past six on Saturday morning, at which time, with 

 steam up and colours flying at each masthead, the 

 " Arctic/' surrounded by a small crowd, and with 

 her head pointed between the dock-gates, was lying, 

 waiting only for the order to " go ahead," to start 

 on her seventh trip to Baffin's Bay. 



I had but just time to bid a hasty farewell and 

 jump on board before the necessary orders were 

 issued — the engines went ahead, three cheers were 



