Chapter XX, 



CONCLUSION. 



HURSDAY, August 21st— We are all, 

 especially myself, sadly disappointed 

 with the progress the ship has made 

 during the last twenty-four hours. The 

 uncertainty of everything in these regions sorely 

 tries one's temper. Last night we got into a fine 

 open water, which we were all convinced would 

 lead us out into the east water somewhere abreast 

 of Home Bay ; and congratulated ourselves accord- 

 ingly. But tjhis afternoon disclosed, to our great 

 disappointment, ice, heavy solid floes, stretching 

 away from the land to the eastward as far as the 

 eye could see, without even a crack or anything 

 approaching a lead through. We are in a regular 

 cul de sac. To add to our misfortune, a fresh 

 breeze has sprung up from the eastward, which 

 will pack all the ice tight up against the land floe,, 

 and we may consider ourselves lucky if we avoid 

 getting beset and being jammed up here for a few 



