AKCTIC VOYAGES. 
179 
lowered, and arrangements made for taking engine to pieces. One or 
two seals were seen to-day, but were too wary, so that they could not 
be approached. Our evenings are getting shorter, and our out-door games 
have ceased for the present. It is very pleasant to walk on deck, gazing 
at the stars, and wondering what friendly eyes are doing the same in 
‘ Ould Ireland.’ All is quiet now as I write, save the purr of the cat 
beside me, the sonorous vibration of some sleeper, and the solitary pit- 
pat of the quartermaster on deck. Outside all seems beautiful above ; 
whilst below, the sparkling snow, the subdued light thrown by the moon 
on the ice, the dark outline of the ‘ Fox ,’ while the masts sparkle with 
myriad points of ice crystals, combined with a perfect stillness, and the 
quiet moon looking down on all, give a perfect Arctic picture. 
“ 22nd. Bather fatigued, as I have been up all night. Yesterday 
was rather a fine day. Barometer commencing to fall; a little wind, 
combined with snow-drift; no sun, and only occasional stars. A flat 
island or some land was seen this morning; one usuk was seen by Chris¬ 
tian ; nothing of interest occurred during the day. A good deal of snow 
fell during the afternoon and evening. At 9 p. ar. commenced taking 
hourly observations with strong ozone paper,—the wind freshening at 
same time, barometer falling, and the amount of snow-drift increasing. 
I employed myself during the night in copying out thermometric tables, 
and reading occasionally, varied by a short walk on deck, punctually 
hauling the box-door at the end of every hour. The wind increased till 
the morning, when it was up to 9. The wind continues still, but much 
abated, and there has been little drift during the day ; the barometer is 
rising, and the thermometer keeps about 1°; the decks are very slippery. 
Very good results have been obtained from the observations, but I have 
not as yet tabulated them. Astral observations were made last night, 
but the sun was too obscure to-day. I saw a faint parhelia to-day, 
but it remained for only a few minutes, not giving one time to use the 
polariscope, as it had vanished ere I came on deck with the instrument. 
It feels very cold at present, and as I am quite ready for bed, I shall 
turn in. 
“November 2nd. The air to-day has been rather cold, although the 
thermometer stood at 5° F. We have had no sun, so I suppose he has 
left us altogether. The moon was visible all day, at least when the 
clouds allowed her to be seen. The men have been engaged building a 
snow-house, and completed it by the afternoon. School was held as 
usual this evening, and as we were closing, we were all roused up by 
the cry of ‘ A bear—a bear close under our bows.’ We turned out with 
our rifles, as we could get them. The dogs had by this time surrounded 
and bayed him, and by the time Petersen and Christian had reached him 
he had broken through the young ice, and was floundering in the water. 
They immediately fired, as also did young Hobs and the captain as they 
came up. After a little struggle, he was settled by the shot the captain 
fired ; having to load as I ran, I came up too late to fire, although 1 saw 
all the sport. The moon was rather obscured by the clouds, and the bear 
was on all sides surrounded by dogs, so it was not easy to get a shot at 
him. After being got out of the water by a harpoon and boat-hooks, he 
