The fog was so thick that nothing could be seen ahead. We saw nothing further of the Thetis as she remained at Cape York to pick up the party landed by the Bear.
I turned in for a time during the night, as the ship was beset by heavy ice. We had now completed the passage of Melville Bay without accident and nearly every one on board felt that the greatest danger of the voyage was over, so we would work our way to the west and look for whales. In the race from St. John's to Cape York we had been beaten by the Bear only, and that by just a few minutes. The Arctic, Thetis and Wolf were all close, but in the last lap the Aurora and Bear were neck and neck almost to the winning post.
CHAPTER XII—CAPE YORK TO CAREY ISLANDS
"And now there came both mist and snow
And it grew wondrous cold,