One day, when in the neighbourhood of the Knoll, the Admiral signalled to the Walrus, that as they would soon round Wilkes’ Land and stand down south, it would be best for all hands to bend their cold-weather gear.
In shore English that would signify, give out the supplies of winter clothing.
As it turned out, this was very excellent advice indeed.
The Eskimos had their supply first and foremost, and this they had made themselves, under the supervision of Slap-dash, and from seal-skins with the hair on.
Slap-dash assured Captain Bell that there was nothing so good for keeping out the cold, and his words turned out to be true. Most, however, of the sailors and their officers still stuck to flannel and fur.
Both Charlie and Walter had a very great desire to see the inside of a real ice-cave. These caves look like archways, or the openings into tunnels, and are formed by the dash of the waves on huge bergs of land-ice, or even in the sides of the ice-barrier itself.
They had their desire fulfilled one day, while the ships lay almost motionless on the dark water.
There wasn’t a breath of wind, nor was there any fog. And the surveyors were engaged very busily indeed, in taking soundings, and bringing up specimens of the mud or clay at the bottom for examination.
Fires were banked, but the ships were at no great distance from a lofty ice-wall, at the foot of which were several caves.
They rowed on shore at sunset.