314 RECOVER OUR SLEDGE. [June, 



and cub, who had very inquisitively searched the pre- 

 mises. It is probable, if we had been less offensive and 

 taken the matter quietly, that they might have revisited 

 us today. Punch got half my supper, to make up for his 

 disappointment. 



June 15. The day turned out gloomy : no sun at 

 noon, with temperature at 28, by which we lose this as 

 a rating position, now however unimportant. As no 

 signs of Grove could as yet be traced, at six P.M. the 

 sledges were ordered to meet me on the south side of 

 the island, and, taking two men to carry instruments, 

 I travelled over the summit, which commanded a more 

 extensive view. Independent of Mr. Grove, I began to 

 feel some alarm at the non-appearance of the two men 

 despatched, as well as for our provision ; but on one 

 point I felt assured, as by my orders left with Mr. Allard 

 he would be detained, " to await the return of Dr. Lyall." 

 The temperature rose to 36, moist, and thawing rapidly, 

 yet the cold was more sensibly felt : the near floe exhi- 

 bited a rent eighteen inches wide, and the water rose in 

 the fissure within nine inches of the upper surface of the 

 ice ; any move therefore must carry all this ice off-shore. 



June 16. On reaching the island crest I perceived a 

 tent pitched on the opposite shore, and two men, one of 

 whom was in the act of crossing to our sledges. On re- 

 gaining the boat I received a note from Mr. Allard ; he 

 had misconceived my orders entirely, taken Mr. Grove 

 to the ship, leaving the two men in charge of spirits, a 

 gun, and ammunition, and who could be surprised ? one 

 had escaped unhurt by the bursting of the Hudson Bay 

 gun ! Independent of my written orders, finally allot- 

 ting Mr. Grove to this duty, Mr. Loney had verbally ex- 



