On the 15th October a severe gale sprang up, and preparations had to be made in case it was found necessary to abandon the ship. During her drift southwards the _Polaris_ had been nipped several times, and was leaking badly. During this gale she was again nipped so severely that Budington ordered provisions and stores to be thrown upon the ice. The Esquimaux women and children took refuge on the floe. While some of the crew were carrying articles to a safe place on the floe, the _Polaris_ was suddenly drifted away from the ice. So quickly did this catastrophe take place that the floe-party soon disappeared from view. Budington now called all hands to muster, and found that fourteen men remained on board. The _Polaris_ drifted rapidly until toward midnight, when she ran into some young ice, and her progress was stayed. Next morning the ship’s position was found to be half-way between Littleton Island and Cairn Point. No trace of the missing party could be seen. Later in the day the _Polaris_ reached the coast, and was secured with heavy hawsers to large grounded hummocks. On the 19th October two Esquimaux appeared at the ship, and on this date it was decided to build a house on shore. More Esquimaux arrived on the 21st, and they gave great assistance in sledging articles to the shore. The house was soon erected, and was used by the party throughout the winter. Large numbers of Esquimaux made frequent visits, and were very friendly with the party during the whole time of their stay. Towards the end of February 1873 it was decided to begin the construction of two boats in which the party intended to make a retreat to the Danish settlements. On the 30th May almost all the land-ice broke away, and with it the _Polaris_ went adrift. She was carried about 200 yards towards the south, when she again grounded. At high tide her upper deck was 2 feet under water. On the 3rd June 1873 the party set out for the south in their two boats. On the 23rd of this month, in Melville Bay, not far from Cape York, they were gladdened by the sight of a whaler. It turned out to be the _Ravenscraig_ of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, owned by Ninian Lockhart, and commanded by Captain William Allen. The _Polaris_ party were enthusiastically received, and were treated with the greatest kindness. They were ultimately taken to Dundee. We must now return to the party on the floe. It consisted of ten Americans and nine Esquimaux. The Americans were Tyson, Meyer, Herron, Jackson, Kruger, Jamka, Nindemann, Aunting, Lindqvist, and Johnson. They had two boats, two kayaks, a canvas boat, and some navigation instruments, besides a moderate quantity of provisions.