.284 DR. KANE'S FAMOUS ARCTIC VOYAGE 



The sledge had to pursue a winding course around these obstacles, 

 frequently driving through gaps filled with recently-fallen snow, 

 which hid the fissures and openings in the ice beneath. These, says 

 Kane, were fearful traps to disengage a limb from, for every man 

 was painfully aware that a fracture or even a sprain might cost him 

 his life. In addition, the sledge was top-heavy with its load, which 

 weighed not less than noo pounds, while the maimed men could 

 not bear to be lashed down tight enough to secure them against 

 falling off. 



Yet, for the six hours, the progress of this undaunted band was 

 cheering. They advanced nearly a mile an hour, and reached the 

 new floes before they were absolutely weary. "Our sledge," says 

 Kane, "sustained the trial admirably. Ohlsen, restored by hope, 

 walked steadily at the leading belt of the sledge lines ; and I began 

 to feel certain of reaching our half-way station of the day before, 

 where we had left our tent. But we were still nine miles from it, 

 when, almost without premonition, we all became aware of an 

 alarming failure of our energies." 



Bonsall and Morton, two of the most robust of the party, be- 

 sought permission to sleep. They declared that they did not feel 

 cold, and that all they wanted was a little repose. Presently Hans 

 was found frozen almost into rigidity under a drift; and Thomas, 

 standing erect, had his eyes closed, and could scarcely articulate. 

 Soon afterwards, John Blake threw himself on the snow, and 

 refused to rise. They made no complaint of feeling cold ; but it was 

 in vain that Dr. Kane "wrestled, boxed, ran, argued, jeered, or 

 reprimanded;" he found that an immediate halt was unavoidable. 



We must condense the remainder of this story of Arctic terrors. 

 The tent was at length reached and found in good condition, though 

 a bear had overturned it and made havoc to some extent with its 

 contents. After several hours of sleep they set out once more, in 

 good spirits considering the circumstances. Yet their hard labors 

 soon told on them again. As they grew weaker and weaker, their 



