trongly as I now do the absolute need we
have of the blessing and guidance of the Almighty, and I am persuaded
that it is our duty as well as our interest to begin, not only the
Sabbath, but _every_ day with prayer.

"Second. The ordinary duties of the ship shall be carried on, the
watches regularly set and relieved, regular hours observed, and the
details of duty attended to in the usual way, as when in harbour.

"Third. The officers shall take watch and watch about as heretofore,
except when required to do otherwise; the log-books, and meteorological
observations, etcetera, shall be carried on as usual.

"Fourth. The captain shall have supreme and absolute command as when at
sea, but he, on his part, promises that, should any peculiar
circumstance arise, in which the safety of the crew or ship shall be
implicated, he will, if the men are so disposed, call a council of the
whole crew, in which case the decision of the majority shall become law,
but the minority in that event shall have it in their option to separate
from the majority and carry along with them their share of the general
provisions.

"Fifth. Disobedience to orders shall be punishable according to the
decision of a council, to be appointed specially for the purpose of
framing a criminal code, hereafter to be submitted for the approval of
the crew."

The rules above laid down were signed by every man in the ship. Several
of them could not write, but these affixed a cross (x) at the foot of
the page, against which their names were written by the captain in
presence of witnesses, which answered the same purpose. And from that
time, until events occurred which rendered all such rules unnecessary,
the work of the ship went on pleasantly and well.

CHAPTER TEN.

BEGINNING OF WINTER--MEETUCK EFFECTS A REMARKABLE CHANGE IN THE MEN'S
APPEARANCE--MOSSING, AND WORKING, AND PLANS FOR A WINTER CAMPAIGN.

In August the first frost came and formed "young ice" on the sea, but
this lasted only for a brief hour or two, and was broken up by the tide
and melted. By the 10th of September the young ice cemented the floes
of last year's ice together, and soon rendered the ice round the ship
immovable. Hummocks clustered round several rocky islets in the
neighbourhood, and the rising and falling of the tide covered the sides
of the rocks with bright crystals. All the feathered tribes took their
departure for less rigorous climes, with the exception of a sma