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CHAPTER V. 



Retreat. Land's End of North Cornwall. Pell Point. Table Island. 

 Chased by a Walrus. Sledge breaks in. Danger from the lee. 

 Observatory erected. Second Autumnal Expedition. Traces of 

 Gold. Gale and Disruption of Ice. Oomiak constructed. Walrus 

 food. The ' Eider-duck.' Gain the Land-ice. Keach Point Re- 

 pose. Return to the Ship. 



ABOUT eight P.M. it commenced snowing heavily, and 

 not feeling very certain about our road back, we beat 

 our retreat for the beach, selecting the apparently best 

 ravine. We followed it up, and fortunately came out 

 about five hundred yards north of the tent. On the floe 

 edge we noticed one very large seal, and on the land a 

 track of fox, but of no other animal, nor any traces of 

 Esquimaux. We estimated the north-western point of 

 the island from our elevated position to be five miles, 

 equidistant from us and the tent. 



August 31. -On the morning of this last day of Au- 

 gust we experienced thick moist snow, temperature 30, 

 with the sun shining at intervals between the falls of 

 snow and passing clouds, tantalizing us considerably, 

 particularly near noon. Fortunately I succeeded in ob- 

 taining the latitude and true bearing of our stations on 



VOL. I. I 



