Upon arriving at the schooner next morning, I found that the executive officer had availed himself of the delay to break out the ship's hold and effect a better stowage of the deck cargo. Indeed, we were in no condition for going to sea. Many of the stores were hurried on board at the last moment, and the deck was literally covered with boxes and bales, which, in the haste of departure, could not be stowed away. It was long after nightfall when the hatches were closed and every thing secured; but as the pilot did not come on board, we were compelled to wait until daylight. I passed the night on Mr. Baker's yacht, which lay near by, with some kind friends who would not quit us until they saw us fairly off. The pretty yachts _Stella_ and _Howard_, to whose gentlemanly owners I was indebted for courteous attentions, also kept us company. [Sidenote: LEAVING BOSTON.] With the first gray streak of the dawning day, this little fleet tripped their anchors and glided home, bearing our last good-byes, while we, with a fair wind, stood out to sea. [Sidenote: FIRST NIGHT AT SEA.] Before the night closed in, the coast had sunk out of sight, and I was once more tossing on the waves of the broad Atlantic. Again I saw the sun sink beneath the line of waters, and I watched the changing clouds which hung over the land I had left behind me, until the last faint flush of gold and crimson had melted away into the soft twilight. Creeping then into my damp, narrow bunk, I slept the first long, unbroken sleep I had had for weeks. The expedition which had absorbed so much of my attention during the past five years was now fairly on its way. Trusting in Providence and my own energy, I had faith in the future. [Illustration] CHAPTER II. PASSAGE TO THE GREENLAND COAST.--DISCIPLINE.--THE DECKS AT SEA.--OUR QUARTERS.--THE FIRST ICEBERG.--CROSSING THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.--THE MIDNIGHT SUN.--THE ENDLESS DAY.--MAKING THE LAND.--A REMARKABLE SCENE AMONG THE BERGS.--AT ANCHOR IN PRÖVEN HARBOR. I will not long detain the reader with the details of our passage to the Greenland coast. It was mainly devoid of interest.