BEAR-TRACKS AND SEAL-HOLES, BUT NO FOOD. 613 



two boats loaded with their provisions and the sledge with 

 bedcovering, skins, canvas and poles. They had to leave 

 a good deal of valuable stuff behind for want of transpor- 

 tation. They had not made much headway before the 

 breaking of the ice compelled them to return to their 

 former quarters. Then a severe snow-storm set in, and 

 they abandoned all idea of moving from their floe for a 

 time. On the 6th of November they were somewhat 

 alarmed by Captain Tyson becoming suddenly ill. He 

 soon recovered. A seal caught by Joe proved quite a 

 godsend. To make time pass more cheerily, Mr. Meyer 

 made a pack of cards out of some stout paper, and the 

 men amused themselves with euchre. After the snow- 

 storm they utilized the snow by building huts, which ma- 

 terially enhanced their comfort. For some days nothing 

 out of the ordinary routine occurred. The weather was 

 bad and kept them close prisoners in their snow-huts. 

 Meanwhile, their ice-raft was drifting swiftly to the south, 

 and land disappeared. Joe and Hans, their fresh-meat 

 providers, were unable to procure seals or any other ani- 

 mals ; they saw seals and bear and fox tracks, but nothing 

 came within their reach. On Tuesday, November 19th, 

 there was some excitement among the men in consequence 

 of the Esquimaux falling in with two bear tracks and five 

 seal holes. As the provisions were getting short, and the 

 party were suffering terribly from cold and hunger, what 

 a God's blessing it would be if a bear could be shot or a 

 seal or two caught! How tantalizing it was to see these 

 evidences of bears and seals and not be able to reach 

 them! Their dogs got ravenously hungry and attacked 

 their already diminished stores, and they found it neces- 

 sary to shoot five of them. This was a serious loss, as dogs 

 would prove very valuable in the event of an opportunity 

 to reach the shore on ice ; they had but four dogs left 

 now, and five days later had to shoot two of these. 



John Herron's diary tells the story of Thanksgiving 



