A TERRIBLE GALE. 



627 



light wind. Thermometer 39 degrees below zero. The sun 

 made his appearance to-day. I gave him three cheers, hoping 

 we will be able to start in a month. The sun has brought us 

 luck in the way of a seal which Joe caught. 



"March 2d. — God has sent us food in abundance. Joe shot 

 an oogchook, one of the largest kind of seals; plenty of meat and 

 oil, and forty-two dovekies. 11th. Blowing a strong gale yet. 

 All hands were up last night, and dressed and ready for a jump, 

 for the ice was cracking and making a fearful noise all night. 

 To-day has been a fearful day; cannot see for the snow-drift. 

 We know the floe is broken into small pieces. We are afloat, 

 jumping and kicking about, 12th. Last night was a fearful 

 one of suspense; ice cracking and breaking; the gale roaring, 

 and the water swashing ; but where ? We know it is all around 

 us, but cannot see anything. Since one o'clock the wind has 

 been going down, and now I can see around. A nice picture. 

 Everything broken into small pieces. We are on the best 

 piece. The snow-houses are nearly covered. Afternoon. It 

 has calmed down to a fine day, with a light breeze. Joe caught 

 two seals, Hans one, and Captain Tyson one. Joe caught 

 two dovekies and the cook two, showing how good God is to us. 

 22c?. The first day of spring. The sun shines very powerfully, 

 at least I think so. Thermometer ten to twelve degrees below 

 zero. Joe caught two seals to-day. 



u April 1st. — A fearful night last night. Must leave our floe 

 at once. Got under way at 8 A. M., the boat taking in water, 

 and loaded too deep. Threw overboard one hundred pounds 

 of meat, and must throw away all our clothes. Cannot carry 

 anything with us but the tent, a few skins to cover us, a little 

 meat, and our bread and pemmican. Made ten or fifteen miles 

 S., and three or four W. We landed to lighten our boat, and 

 pitched our tent, intending to stop all night. This piece of ice 

 is cracking, and not very safe. Caught a young seal as soon as 

 we got on the ice, and afterward two more. 20th. Started at 5 



