THE BREAK-UP. 
897 
search of open water. We had the full light of day, 
hut without its oppressive glare. The thawed condi- 
tion of the marginal ice made the walk difficult, and 
forced us at last to give it up. But, climbing to the 
top of a hummock, we could see the hay rolling its al- 
most summer waves close under our view. It was a 
grand sight, hut more saddening than grand. It seems 
like our cup of Tantalus ; we are never to reach it. 
And while we are floating close upon it, the season 
is advancing; and if we are ever to aid our broth- 
ers in the search, we should even now he hurrying 
hack. 
’‘‘June 4. Yesterday over again. But the water is 
coming nearer us. As we stand on deck, we can see 
the black and open channel-way on every side of us, 
except oflE’ our port quarter : it is useless to talk of 
points of the compass ; our floe rotates so constantly 
from right to left, as to make them useless in de- 
scription. To port, the extent of ice baffles the eye, 
even from aloft; it must, however, be a mere isth- 
mus. 
“June 5, Thursday. We notice again this morn- 
ing the movement in the trench alongside. The float- 
ing scum of rubbish advances and recedes with a reg- 
ularity that can only be due to some equable undula- 
tion from without to the north. We continue perch- 
ed up, just as we were after our great lift of last De- 
cember. A more careful measurement than we had 
made before, gave us yesterday, between our height 
aft and depression forward, a ditference of level of 6 
feet 4 inches. This inclination tells in a length of 
83 feet — about one in thirteen. 
“ P.M. The BREAK-UP AT LAST ! A little after five 
this afternoon, Mr. Griffin left us for the Rescue, after 
