_night_,) was chosen when the light was least injurious to the eyes;
for though the sun shone upon them during the whole period, and there
was no darkness, yet when that luminary was lowest in the horizon, the
reflection from the bright white surface of snow was more endurable.
They could not, however, bear up under the fatigue. During their whole
march they were soaking wet to the knees, and benumbed by a
temperature always at or near the freezing point. At the close of
twelve or fourteen hours thus occupied, when they came to seek rest by
lying down, the change of their wet for dry stockings and fur boots
caused such a reaction, that the tingling and smart were insufferable.

When Captain Parry found that the men could not support their toils on
the allowance, (of about nineteen ounces per twenty-four hours, of
pemecan and biscuit-powder.) he added, by way of luxury, a pint of hot
water at night. This was found to be very restorative, warming the
system; and if a little of the dinner food had been saved, it made a
broth of great relish and value. Spirits were not drank; and the
reason why even hot water was scarce, was, that it took so large a
stock of their spirits of wine to boil it and the cocoa, that the
quantity consumed could not safely be increased.

The ice itself was drifting faster to the south than they could make
their way over it to the north: thus, during the last three days of
their struggle, instead of gaining a higher latitude, they were
actually two miles farther south than when they set out. This put an
end to the expedition where everything which human energy and
perseverance could do, was done so fruitlessly.

While the boats were away, the Hecla was not exempt from dangers. She
had been wrought into a snug birth near the shore. A-head there were