The vessels were iced like ghost ships. Tack back and
forward as they might, no passage opened through the ice. Suddenly
Cook found himself in shoal water, on a lee shore, long and low and
shelving, with the ice drifting on his ships. He called the place Icy
Cape. It was their farthest point north; and the third week of August
they were compelled to scud south to escape the ice. Backing away
toward Asia, he reached the North Cape there. It was almost September.
In accordance with the secret instructions, Cook turned south to winter
at the Sandwich Islands, passing Serdze Kamen, where Bering had turned
back in 1728, East Cape on the Straits of Bering just opposite the
American Prince of Wales, and St. Lawrence islands where the ships
anchored.
Norton Sound was explored on the way back; and October saw Cook down at
Oonalaska, where Ledyard was sent overland across the island to conduct
the {196} Russian traders to the English ships. Three Russians came to
visit Cook. One averred that he had been with Bering on the expedition
of 1741, and the rough adventurers seemed almost to worship the Dane's
memory.
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