BARTLETT'S FARTHEST 
other human beings, and in perfectly good 
condition; but the time was quickly coming 
when the little party would have to be made 
smaller and some part of it sent back. We 
were too fatigued to argue the question. 
We turned in for a rest and sleep, but soon 
turned out again in pandemonium incompre- 
hensible; the ice moving in all directions, our 
igloos wrecked, and every instant our very 
lives in danger. With eyes dazed by sleep, 
we tried to guide the terror-stricken dogs and 
push the sledges to safety, but rapidly we saw 
the party being separated and the black water 
begin to appear amid the roar of the breaking 
ice floes. 
To the westward of our igloo stood the 
Captain's igloo, on an island of ice, which 
revolved, while swiftly drifting to the east- 
ward. On one occasion the floe happened to 
strike the main floe. The Captain, intently 
watching his opportunity, quickly crossed with 
his Esquimos. He had scarcely set foot on 
the opposite floe when the floe on which he had 
been previously isolated swung off, and 
rapidly disappeared. 
Once more the parties were together. 
121 
