284 APPROACHING BAFFIn's BAY. 
former depots on the floe had fared so badly that we 
were reluctant to risk another ; hut our stores were 
ready to he got out at the moment.^ 
Now began, with every one after his own fashion, 
the discussion what was best to be done in case of a 
wreck. Should we try our fortunes for the while on 
board the Rescue ? She would probably be the first 
to go, and could hardly hope for a more protracted fate 
than her consort. Or should we try for the shore, and 
what shore ? Admiralty Inlet, or Pond's Bay, or the 
River Clyde ? We have no reason to suppose the Es- 
quimaux are accessible on the coast in winter ; and 
if they are, they can not have provisions for such a 
hungry re-enforcement as ours ; besides, the chance of 
reaching land from the drift-field through the broken 
ice between them is slender at the best for men worn 
down and sick ; much more if they should attempt to 
carry two months' stores along with them. There was 
only one other resort, to camp out on the floe, if it 
should kindly offer us a foothold, and then move as 
best we might from one failing homestead to another, 
like a band of Arabs in the desert. Happily, Captain 
Be Haven was spared the necessity of choosing be- 
tween the alternatives : the ice-storm did not reach us. 
January 15. The moon is now nearly full. Her 
light mingles so with the twilight of the sun that the 
stars are quite sobered down. Walking out at 4 P.M., 
* I hare avoided speaking of my brother officers. From myself, a subordin- 
ate, only accidentally recording their exertions, it would be out of place ; yet 
I should speak the sentiment of all on board were I to recognize how much we 
owed to our executive officer, Mr. Griffin. All our systematized preparation for 
the contingencies which threatened us, the sledges, the knapsacks, the daily 
training, and the provision depots, were due to him. Our commander, then so 
ill with scurvy that we feared for his recovery, was compelled to delegate to 
his second in command many executive duties which he would otherwise have 
taken on himself. 
1 
