CHAPTER XXVI. 
THE ICE-FOOT IN AUGUST-TnE PACK IN AUGUST — ICE-BLAST TNG 
-FOX-TRAP POINT-WARPING — THE PROSPECT—APPROACHING 
CLIMAX-SIGNAL CAIRN-THE RECORD—PROJECTED WITHDRAWAL 
-THE QUESTION-THE DETERMINATION—THE RESULT. 
It was with, mingled feelings that we neared the 
brig. Oar little party had grown fat and strong upon 
the auks and eiders and scurvy-grass; and surmises 
were rife among us as to the condition of our comrades 
and the prospects of our ice-bound little ship. 
The tide-leads, which one year ago had afforded a 
precarious passage to the vessel, now barely admitted 
our whaleboat; and, as we forced her through the 
broken ice, she showed such signs of hard usage, that 
I had her hauled up upon the land-belt and housed 
under the cliffs at Six-mile Ravine. We crossed the 
rocks on foot, aided by our jumping-poles, and startled 
our shipmates by our sudden appearance. 
In the midst of the greeting which always met our 
returning parties, and Avhich ga\ r e to our little vessel 
the endearing associations of a homestead, our thoughts 
reverted to the feeble chances of our liberation, and 
Vol. I.— 22 837 
