one o’clock
A few snow-encrusted rafters stood out in the light of the Aurora Borealis , a few white lines marked the boundaries of the enceinte of the factory , a -- white mass here and there , a few blue wreaths of smoke from the expiring fire never to be rekindled ; this was all that could be seen of Fort Hope , now useless and deserted , but erected at the cost of so much labour and so much anxiety . `` Farewell , farewell , to our poor Arctic home ! '' exclaimed Mrs. Barnett , waving her hand for the last time ; and all sadly and silently resumed their journey . 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 .