382 THE LOSS OF THE "THAMES" 



perfect safety, was one of those coincidences that a 

 century ago would undoubtedly have been ascribed to 

 the agency of supernatural powers of evil. This un- 

 toward accident was a heavy blow to all of us. We 

 realised to the full the truth of Burns's proverb, that 

 " the best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft a-gley." 

 The captain's hopes were totally frustrated. The good 

 ship was for that year at least irretrievably stranded, and 

 the following spring the ice would probably crumple her 

 up like pasteboard. For my part I could only expect to 

 reach the tundra too late for my best work, with the 

 cheerful prospect, besides, of facing an overland journey 

 of five or six thousand miles, with a little mountain of 

 luggage. There was nothing left for it but " to grin 

 and abide." 



The first thing to do was to hold a council of war. 

 Captain Wiggins declared himself determined if possible 

 to complete his programme. If he could not return to 

 England in the Thames he was desirous of making the 

 attempt in the Ibis. The question was whether his men 

 would consent to accompany him. I declined to commit 

 myself to what I could not but consider a foolhardy 

 enterprise, but expressed myself not only willing but 

 most anxious to go as far as Golchika, and proposed that 

 the future destination of the Ibis should be left an open 

 question, to be finally settled on our arrival at that port. 

 Wiggins fell in with this compromise at once, and began _ 

 to complete the half-finished Ibis. Now that the Thames 

 was hors de combat we could freely rob her of spars, 

 sails, compass, and many other little things which would 

 make the Ibis as complete as possible. Boiling assisted 

 in these arrangements with hearty good will. He was 

 as anxious as I was to reach Golchika, but the men 

 worked sullenly, and it was evident that something 



