such as they could conveniently secrete.  This they accomplished with so much dexterity, that no suspicion would have been excited of their dishonesty had not Mr. Sherer fortunately missed a cup which was required for supper.  A general search being instituted in consequence, and the cargo of the women’s boots brought back to our tents, I directed all our presents to be likewise taken from the two offenders; and, dismissing the whole party with great appearance of indignation, thus put an end, for the present, to our communication with these people.

We spent the two next days in exploring a creek which we called CULGRUFF, and another on the opposite or eastern shore, which received the name of NORMAN’S CREEK, and returned to the Hecla on the evening of the 14th.

I learned from Captain Lyon that the Hecla had just anchored at her present station, the Fury still remaining at the former place, into which the ice had lately come so thick as to require the assistance of all hands from both ships to warp and tow the Hecla out.  Proceeding with a fresh boat’s crew towards the Fury, which we found close beset by thick and heavy ice, we succeeded, after much difficulty, in hauling the boat through it, and arrived on board at ten P.M.

As soon as the tide would serve in the offing on the morning of the 15th, we weighed, and, by means of warping and towing, in which we were assisted by Captain Lyon’s boats, succeeded in joining the Hecla at her anchorage at three P.M.

CHAPTER V.

Farther Examination in the Boats for the Purpose of Connecting the Shores of Lyon Inlet with that of Gore Bay.—­Continuity of the Land determined.—­Fresh Detention by the Ice.—­Boats carried over Land.—­Return to the Ships.—­Progress out of the Inlet prevented by the Ice.—­The Fury grounds upon a Rock.—­Anchor in Safety Cove.—­Heavy Easterly Gales.—­Proceed out of the Inlet.—­Arrival in a Bay on the south Side of Winter Island.—­Ships secured in Winter-quarters.

Again leaving the ships on the 15th, we rowed before sunset between six and seven miles along the high southwestern land, passing what appeared a small harbour, with an island near the middle of the entrance, and landed on a shingly beach near a small bay or creek, extending three quarters of a mile to the W.N.W., and then terminating in a deep, broad valley.  We left the shore at half past four A.M. on the 16th, and in an hour’s sailing, with a fresh northwest wind, came to some loose ice, through which we continued to make our way till eleven o’clock, when it became so close that a passage could no longer be found in any direction.  There was also so much young ice in every small interval between the loose masses, that the boats were much cut about the water-line in endeavouring to force through it.  In order, therefore, to avoid the risk of being altogether driven from the shore, I determined to attempt a passage into the bay, which was three quarters of a mile distant; and in this, after two hours’ labour, we at length succeeded.  Finding that the ice was likely to prove an obstacle of which we could not calculate the extent or continuance, we began at once to reduce our daily expenditure of provisions, in order to meet any contingency.