During the afternoon, we got under way and poked about without moving much further north. When we were crossing any open places, the ship steamed very slowly and a man was kept forward, on the lookout for submerged rocks.
CHAPTER XI—MELVILLE BAY
"And hark! The lengthening roar continuous runs
Athwart the rifted deep, at once it bursts
And piles a thousand mountains to the clouds."
June 1st. Sunday. Owing to a change of wind the ice had loosened and during the night we managed to push on to Berry Island. The Bear and Thetis appeared upon the scene during the afternoon, and we saw the Bear strike a sunken rock. We hooked on to the small island with several of the other ships, the Bear being on our starboard side, and the Narwhal, Arctic and Thetis on the port. I saw Commander Schley going on board the Bear and examining her with a water telescope. His boat passed very close to our quarter and the Captain spoke to him as he went.
The ships were all lying close to the shore floe with this low island in front of them, and it looked as if they might be there some time, so I went on shore with the surgeon of the Arctic. There was a camera sitting on the ice near the Thetis, so the ships were evidently being photographed. We wandered about the inhospitable place for a time and came on board. The perpetual daylight made me very irregular in my movements, coming and going at all hours; my day was regulated by my meals. Those who had watches to keep slept and got up with their usual regularity.