I explained to them the importance of securing a posi¬ 
tion which might expedite our sledge journeys in the 
future; and, after assuring them that such a position 
could only be attained by continuing our efforts, an¬ 
nounced my intention of warping toward the northern 
headland of the bay. “Once there, I shall be able to 
determine from actual inspection the best point for set¬ 
ting out on the operations of the spring; and at the 
nearest possible shelter to that point I will put the brig 
into winter harbor.” My comrades received this deci¬ 
sion in a manner that was most gratifying, and entered 
zealously upon the hard and cheerless duty it involved. 
The warping began again, each man, myself in¬ 
cluded, taking his turn at the capstan. The ice seemed 
less heavy as we penetrated into the recess of the bay; 
