54° 10', long. 79° 07'. This was our
position at noon. The sun was out bright; the ice was all left
behind, and things had quite a cheering appearance. We brought
our wet pea-jackets and trowsers on deck, and hung them up in
the rigging, that the breeze and the few hours of sun might dry
them a little; and, by the permission of the cook, the galley
was nearly filled with stockings and mittens, hung round to be
dried. Boots, too, were brought up; and having got a little tar
and slush from below, we gave them a thick coat. After dinner,
all hands were turned-to, to get the anchors over the bows,
bend on the chains, etc. The fish-tackle was got up, fish-davit
rigged out, and after two or three hours of hard and cold work,
both the anchors were ready for instant use, a couple of kedges
got up, a hawser coiled away upon the fore-hatch, and the deep-sea-
lead-line overhauled and got ready. Our spirits returned with having
something to do; and when the tackle was manned to bowse the anchor
home, notwithstanding the desolation of the scene, we struck up
"Cheerily ho!" in full chorus. This pleased the mate, who rubbed
his hands and cried out - "That's right, my boys; never say die!
That sounds like the old crew!" and the captain came up, on hearing
the song, and said to the passenger, within hearing of the man at
the wheel, - "That sounds like a lively crew.
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