There was no compass in the boat, nor could we tell the sun's position through the thick snow.

We rowed with the wind, thinking that it was blowing toward the north, and would carry us in that direction.

We still hoped to come within sound of the ship's gun, and kept straining our ears incessantly to hear the wished-for report.
But no such sound ever came again, and we heard nothing except the plash of the waves and the crash of breaking ice.

Thus all that day we rowed along, resting at intervals when exhausted, and then resuming our labors, until at length night came; and again to the snow and ice and waves was added the horror of great darkness.

We passed that night in deep misery.