eight
o’clock
At one o'clock the detachment arrived at Cape Michael , after having rounded the gulf which the cold had imperfectly frozen over . Thus far the difficulties of the journey had not been very great , for the ground of the island was smooth compared to the ice-field , which was strewn with icebergs , hummocks , and packs , between which , practicable passes had to be found at the cost of an immense amount of fatigue . Towards the evening of the same day the party had advanced several miles on the ice-field , and a halt for the night was ordered ; the encampment was to be formed by hollowing out snow-houses in the Esquimaux style . The work was quickly accomplished with the ice-chisels , and at eight o'clock , after a salt meat supper , every one had crept into the holes , which are much warmer than anybody would imagine . Before retiring , however , Mrs. Barnett asked the Lieutenant how far he thought they had come . `` Not more than ten miles , I think , '' replied Hobson . `` Ten from six hundred ! ''