to take exercise, the band played, and they
tramped round the deck to the music. While thus engaged, one day, what
was their dismay to see the house containing the valuable instruments on
fire! The crew, without stopping to put on their extra warm clothing,
hurried to the shore, pulled off the roof with ropes, knocked down a
part of the sides, and, by being thus able to throw in large quantities
of snow, succeeded in extinguishing the flames. So bitter was the cold
that, though thus actively employed, the noses and cheeks of all the men
were white by frostbites. The medical officers were compelled to run
from one to the other and rub them with snow, in order to restore
animation; even thus it was found necessary to cut off several fingers
of one poor fellow, and sixteen others were added to the sick list.
Hunting excursions were organised, and reindeer, musk oxen, partridges,
and ptarmigan were met with. Some of the former were killed. No bears
had been seen, until one day Captain Sabine's servant being at a
distance from the ship, a huge white monster started up and pursued him.
The man ran as fast as his legs could carry him, until he got on board,
when the bear, coming close to the ship, was shot at and wounded, but
notwithstanding made its escape. It was the only one seen during the
long stay of the ships on that desolate shore. The animal tribes
disappeared early in the winter. On the 15th of September a herd of
deer was seen lying down, except a large stag. This, after the rest had
risen, guarded the herd in their flight, frequently going round them,
sometimes striking them with his horns to make them move faster.

On the same day the last covey of ptarmigan was met with. What no one
would have expected to see in that frozen region--three specimens of a
caterpillar were obtained one of which, as an arctic curiosity, was
brought to England.

For some months the crew retained excellent health, but early in January
the gunner showed symptoms which indicated scurvy. The immediate cause
appeared to be a collection of damp which had formed round his
bed-place. At once all the anti-scorbutics were put into requisition,
such as lime-juice, pickles, spruce beer; a quantity of mustard and
cress had also been raised from mould placed over the stove-pipe, which
rapidly grew. So successful were these remedies that, in nine days, the
patient could walk about. The only animals remaining were a pack of
wolves, wh