kept his journal regularly,
and was careful to note down only what he heard and saw.

CHAPTER SIX.

PREPARATIONS FOR WINTERING--REMARKABLE ADVENTURES WITH A BEAR.

The first care of Captain Harvey, after getting his brig securely laid
up in her icy cradle for the winter was to remove some of the stores to
the island, where he had them carefully secured in a little hut which
the crew built of loose stones. This relieved the strain on the vessel,
and permitted the free circulation of air. The fitting up of the
interior of the brig was then begun.

The wooden partition between the cabin and the hold was taken down, and
the whole space thrown into one apartment. The stove was put up in the
centre of it, and moss was piled round the walls inside about a foot
thick. Moss was also spread on the deck, and above it the snow was
allowed to gather, for snow, although so cold itself, keeps things that
it covers warm, by not permitting the heat to escape. The brig was
banked up all round with snow, and a regular snowy staircase was built
from the ice to her bulwarks.

They changed their time, now, from what is called sea-time to that which
we follow on land. That is to say, they reckoned the day to commence
just after twelve, midnight, instead of dividing it into watches, as
they were wont to do at sea. Journals were begun, and careful notes
made of everything that occurred, or that might in any way further the
object for which they had gone there. Every man in the ship had his
appointed duty and his post. If the native Eskimos should arrive in a
warlike temper, each man had his cutlass and pistols in readiness. If a
bear should pay them a visit, each could lay hands on his musket in an
instant; and if a fire should break out on board, every man had his
bucket ready and his particular post fixed. Some were to run to the
water-hole, which it was the duty of one man to keep open. Others were
to station themselves from the hole to the ship to pass the buckets,
while the rest were to remain on board to convey them to the point of
danger. Captain Harvey fixed all the arrangements, and superintended
the carrying out of his orders in a general way, making his two officers
and the young doctor responsible for the overseeing of details. Each of
these foremen furnished him with a report every night of what had been
done during the day, and the result was noted down by himself in a
journal. Thus everything went smoothly