Unsuccessful Chase. 229 



wreck. We could also see a large anchor, but no 

 signs whatever of the ship herself. The land seems 

 to be of the same silurian limestone as at Port 

 Leopold. I am afraid we shall not proceed much 

 further to the southward, as the captain reports the 

 ice closing in, so that our chance is small of going up 

 the Gulf of Boothia. Certainly, as far as I can 

 see, there is open water to the south, and the ice is 

 at least four miles off the west coast of the inlet. 1 

 obtained good sights again to-day. 



Midnight. — We have just returned on board 

 from a long, wearisome, and unsuccessful chase 

 after a whale. Shortly after entering Creswell 

 Bay some fish were seen. All hands were called, 

 and all the boats sent away, the captain observing 

 with glee, as we shoved off, that we should be a 

 "full ship" that evening. I went as boat steerer 

 in Bannerman's boat, going with two others after a 

 fish towards the head of the bay. For eight hours 

 did we chase and dodge that whale, sometimes 

 getting within one hundred feet of it, but never 

 near enough to risk a shot. We must have pulled 

 at least a distance of twenty miles, first to star- 

 board, then to port, then ahead, and now astern. 

 I verily believe the fish had seen us, and was pur- 

 posely leading us astray. We chased it nearly up 

 to the head of the bay, and then out again towards 

 the ship, when it again turned and went back. 

 The captain, seeing our crew were nearly done up, 



