"On the third day, however, a snow-storm set in, and continued for hours.
"Knowing as how time was valuable, after a rest, we tried to make our way through the drifting snow.
"But, after toiling for a long while, we found ourselves back where we started from.
"The captain, I and one or two others wanted to try again, but the rest outvoted us.
"We, therefore, tried to turn the pack by coasting along it, but, although we ran over a hundred miles along its edge, in a westerly direction, never a lead did we come across which offered any hopes of getting through.
"At length we came to the end, where it was joined on to another pack, which extended to the south.
"This we ran along till we saw high land before us.
"But all the shore was a rampart of old ice, so that it was next to impossible to approach.
"However, we killed quantities of seals and saw many whales floating in the open water.
"We then determined to make once more for the brig and start anew, taking an easterly route.