A CHANCE TO BE TRIED, 255 Snow, which soon became hardened, replaced the rain of the preced- ing days. A few naore days of such cold and sledges could be used. The little bay hollowed out of the cliffs of Cape Michael was partly filled with ice and snow ; but it must not be forgotten that its calmer waters froze more quickly than those of the open sea, which were not yet in a satisfactory condition. The wind continued to blow almost incessantly, and with con- siderable violence, but the motion of waves interfered with the regular formation and consolidation of the ice. Large pools of water occurred here and there between the pieces of ice, and it was impos- sible to attempt to cross it. " The weather is certainly getting colder," observed^ Mrs Barnett to Lieutenant Hobson, as they were exploring the south of the island together on the 10th November, " the temperature is becom- ing lower and lower, and these liquid spaces will soon freeze over." " I think you are right, madam," replied Hobson, " but the way in which they will freeze over will not be very favourable to our plans. The pieces of ice are small, and their jagged edges will stick up all over the surface, making it very rough, so that if our sledges get over it at all, it will only be with very great difficulty." " But," resumed Mrs Barnett, " if I am not mistaken, a heavy fall of snow, lasting a few days or even a few hours, would suffice to level the entire surface ! " " Yes, yes," replied Hobson, " but if snow should fall, it will be because the temperature has risen ; and if it rises, the ice-field will break up again, so that either contingency will be against us ! " " It really would be a strange freak of fortune if we should experience a temperate instead of an Arctic winter in the midst of the Polar Sea ! " observed Mrs Barnett.
- ' It has happened before, madam, it has happened before. Let
me remind you of the great severity of last cold season ; now it has been noticed that two long bitter winters seldom succeed each other, and the whalers of the northern seas know it well. A bitter winter when we should have been glad of a mild one, and a mild one when we so sorely need the reverse. It must be owned, we have been strangely unfortunate thus far ! And when I think of six hundred miles to cross with women and a child !".... And Hobson pointed to the vast white plain, with strange irre- gular markings like guipure work, stretching away into the infinite
