CHAPTER XXXL 
AN AURORA—WOOD-CUTTING — FUEL ESTIMATE-THE STOVE-PIPES 
—THE ARCTIC FIRMAMENT — ESQUIMAUX ASTRONOMY — IIEATINO 
APPARATUS — METEORIC SHOWER — A BEAR—IIASTY RETREAT— 
THE CABIN BY NIGHT — SICKNESS INCREASING — CUTTING INTO 
THE BRIG-THE NIGnT-WATCH. 
“October 24, Tuesday. — We are at work that makes 
us realize how short-handed we are. The brig was 
lifted for the third time to day, with double chains 
passed under her at low tide, both astern and amid¬ 
ships. Her bows were already raised three feet above 
the water, and nothing seemed wanting to our complete 
success, when at the critical moment one of the after- 
shores parted, and she fell over about five streaks to 
starboard. The slings were hove to by the crab, and 
luckily held her from going farther, so that she now 
stands about three feet above her flotation-line, drawing 
four feet forward, but four and a half aft. She has 
righted a little with the return of tide, and now awaits 
the freezing-in of her winter cradle. She is well out 
of water; and, if the chains only hold, we shall have 
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