1 
CHAPTER XXXlll. 
We had lost all indications of a shore, and had ob- 
viously passed within the influences of Baffin’s Bay. 
We were on the meridian of 75°; yet, though the re- 
cent commotions could he referred to nothing else hut 
the conflict of the two currents, we had made very 
little southing, if any, and had seen no hergs. But on 
the 14th the wind edged round a little more to the 
northward, and at six o’clock in the morning of the 
15th we could hear a squeezing noise among the ice- 
fields in that direction. By this time we had become 
learned interpreters of the ice- voices. Of course, we 
renewed our preparations for whatever might he com- 
ing. Every man arranged his knapsack and blanket- 
bag over again with the practiced discretion of an ex- 
pert. Our extra clothing sledge, carefully repacked, 
was made free on deck. The India-ruhher boat, only 
useful in this solid waste for crossing occasional chasms, 
was launched out upon the ice for the third time. Our 
