266 ARCTIC SEAS*. 



passages underlined. Besides these books, the covers </ 

 a New Testament and Prayer-book were found 



" The only provisions we could find were tea aui 



chocolate ; of the former very little remained, but there 



were nearly forty pounds of the latter. These articles 



alone could never support life in such a climate, and we 



found neither biscuit nor meat of any kind 



" I was astonished to find that the sledge was directed 

 to the N.E., exactly for the next point of land for which 

 we ourselves were travelling I 



" A little reflection led me to satisfy my own mind at 

 least, that the boat was returning to the ships ; and in 

 no other way can I account for two men having been left 

 in her, than by supposing the party were unable to drag 

 the boat further, and that these two men, not being able 

 to keep pace with their shipmates, were therefore left by 

 them supplied with such provisions as could be spared, tc 

 last until the return of the others from the ship with a 

 fresh stock. 



" The same reasons which may be assigned for the 

 return of this detachment from the main body, will also 

 serve to account for their not having come back to their 

 boat. In both instances they appear to have greatly 

 overrated their strength, and the distance they could 

 travel in a given time." 



What thoughts must those have been of that lonely 

 pair in the deserted boat, as hour by hour they gazed 

 across the dreary wastes for the comrades who never 

 returned, or of that strong man ID his solitary death- 



