LIEUTENANT DE LONG'S DIARY. 889 



" His death resulted from frost bite and exhaustion due 

 to consequent exposure. 



" The rest of us are well, but have no provisions left, 

 having eaten our last this morning." 



Under way by 8:30 and proceeded until 11:20, by which 

 time we had made about three miles. Here we were all 

 pretty well done up, and seemed to be wandering in a laby- 

 rinth. A large lump of wood swept in by an eddy seemed 

 to be a likely place to get hot water, and I halted the 

 party for dinner one ounce of alcohol in a pot of tea. 

 Then went ahead and soon struck what seemed like the 

 main river again. Here four of us broke tli rough the ice in 

 trying to cross, and, fearing frost-bite, I had a fire built on 

 the west bank to dry us up. Sent Alexai off, meanwhile, to 

 look for food, directing him not to go far or s<;iy long ; but 

 at 1:30 he had not returned, nor was he in sight. Light 

 southwest breeze, foggy. Mountains in sight to southward 

 At 5:30 Alexai returned Avith one ptarmigan, of which we 

 made sou}), and with half an ounce of alcohol had our sup- 

 per. Then crawled under our blankets for a sleep. Light 

 west breeze, full moon, starlight, not very cold. Alexai 

 saw the river a mile wide, with no ice in it. 



SATURDAY, Oct. 8th 118th day. Called all hands at half- 

 past five. Breakfast, one ounce of alcohol in a pint of hot 

 water. 



Doctor's Note. Alcohol proves of great advantage. Keeps 

 off craving for food, preventing gnawing at stomach and has 

 kept up the strength of the men, as given three ounces per 

 day, as estimated, and in accordance with Dr. Ambler's 

 experiments. 



Went ahead until half-past ten. One ounce alcohoL 

 Half-past six to half-past ten, five miles struck Big Biver at 

 11:30. Ahead again. Snow banks. Met small river, have 

 to turn back. Halt at five ; only made advance one mile 

 more. Hard luck. Snow. South-southwest wind, cold. 

 Camp. But little wood. Half an ounce of alcohol. 



SUNDAY, Oct. 9th 119th day. All hands at 4:30. One 



