"And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold. And ice, mast high, came floating by, As green as emerald. And through the drifts, the snowy cliffs Did send a dismal sheen; Nor shapes of men, nor beasts we ken, The ice was all between. * * * * * With sloping masts and dripping prow, As who pursued with yell and blow, Still treads the shadow of his foe, And forwards bends his head, The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast, And _Northwards_ aye we fled." COLERIDGE. Now that we are pursuing our solitary journey northwards, we can the more fully realize that our real work has commenced--the real work towards the achievement of that success which we all so ardently hope will crown our efforts. Now that we are alone we shall be the more ready to avail ourselves of every opening in the ice that may present itself, every little chance that may occur, which we should be unable to do, if hampered with a second ship. We had hardly advanced three miles, in fact were still just inside the entrance to the harbour, when the ice, closing in round the point, barred all egress. In endeavouring to steer clear of these fragments, the ship grounded on a projecting spit off a small island, but sustained no injury, floating again immediately she was lightened. As farther advance was out of the question, for the present, in consequence of the pack having drifted in, the vessel was secured under the lee of a natural breakwater at the entrance to Discovery Harbour, ready to take advantage of the first opportunity of making a start that should offer. Accompanied by Feilden and Rawson, I made an expedition to Distant Cape, whence we obtained a good view of Robeson Channel; but it was anything but an inspiriting one. There appeared to be a perfect block of heavy ice right across to the Greenland coast, although a few thin blue lines, denoting streams of water, could be discerned radiating in the pack to the eastward, but apparently leading to nothing. Some terns, _Sterna Arctica_, were obtained on a small island, as also their young and eggs. The nests were simply little round holes, some in the snow, having a few small pebbles as a bed. Some knots, _Tringa Canutius_, were also obtained; but no amount of search was successful in discovering either the egg or the nest of this bird. A fine sheet of water, situated on the breakwater, being frozen over, afforded our skaters an opportunity of indulging in their favourite pastime, and of practising both the inside and outside edges to their hearts' content. The following day was also one of enforced idleness, and no movement could be made with the ship. [Illustration: KNOTS.]