1 82 THE FUR COUNTRY, "But how far are we from the American continent % that is the most important point just at present," said Mrs Barnett. Hobson took his compasses, and carefully measured the narrowest part of the sea between the coast and the seventieth parallel. " We are actually more than two hundred and fifty miles from Point Barrow, the northernmost extremity of Russian America," he replied. " We ought to know, then, how many miles the island has drifted since it left the mainland," said Sergeant Long. " Seven hundred miles at least," replied Hobson, after having again consulted the chart. '^ And at about what time do you suppose the drifting com- menced ? " " Most likely towards the end of April ; the ice-field broke up then, and the icebergs which escaped melting drew back to the north. We may, therefore, conclude that Victoria Island has been moving along with the current parallel with the coast at an average rate of ten miles a day." " No very rapid pace after all ! " exclaimed Mrs Barnett. "Too fast, madam, when you think where we may be taken during the two months in which the sea will remain open in this part of the Arctic Ocean." The three friends remained silent, and looked fixedly at the chart of the fearful Polar regions, towards which they were being irresistibly drawn, and which have hitherto successfully resisted all attempts to explore them. " There is, then, nothing to be done ? Nothing to try ? " said Mrs Barnett after a pause. " Nothing, madam," replied Hobson ; " nothing whatever. We must wait ; we must all pray for the speedy arrival of the Arctic winter generally so much dreaded by sailors, but which alone can save us now. The winter will bring ice, our only anchor of salva- tion, the only power which can arrest the course of this wandering island."
