leads, circling for a vantage-point, and, finally, the bringing- 
down and flensing. 
Our coal, too, was running low. The average consump¬ 
tion had been two tons a day, for steam was absolutely neces¬ 
sary this late in the year, to guard against being beset by ice. 
Hope of improved conditions being foolhardy, any last at¬ 
tempt at reaching the Greenland coast must be abandoned 
now. 
Realizing the inevitable, we set sail at last for Jan Mayen, 
after having cruised up and down the relentless pack, between 
Latitudes 73 0 and 78°, for six weeks or so. 
The afternoon of August 21st brought the passing of the 
heavy pack, and we were clear of the ice till evening. Sailing 
north all day; then, to round a long, narrow cape, a line of 
breakers, formed by swells of heavy sea beating against the 
close-massed floes, made the proximity of other ice less dan¬ 
gerous and uncomfortable. 
August 22d and 23d the Laura proceeded, full sail, on her 
way. Clear skies and sunshine kept her company. Then, on 
the 23d, Mt. Beerenberg, on Jan Mayen, rose; fifteen miles 
ahead, at least. But, so clear the air, the snow-clad peaks 
seemed but a mile away. 
The peak is an extinct volcano, last seen in activity by 
Scoresby in 1818, and stands 8,350 feet in height. Usually its 
summit is topped with fog; but while great belts of mist ob¬ 
scured the lower third to-day, the rest stood out, clear and 
sharp. | 
Aug. 20th 
Aug. 21st 
August 
22d, 23d 
ONE WHO WAS LEFT BEHIND. 
6 
