44 



LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. 



[VI. 



before him. Additional articles were stowed away here and 

 there among the boxes. The last instructions were given 

 by Sigurdr to the guides, and everything was declared ready 

 for a start. With the air of an equestrian star, descending 

 into the arena of Astley's Amphitheatre, the cook then 

 stepped forward, made me a superb bow, and was assisted 

 into the saddle. My little cabin-boy accompanied him as 

 aide-de-camp. 



The jovial Wilson rides with us to-morrow. Unless we 

 get his head round during the night, he will have to sit facing 

 his horse's tail, in order to see before him. 



We do not seem to run any danger of falling short of 

 provisions, as by all accounts there are birds enough in the 

 interior of the country to feed an Israelitish emigration. 



WILSON. 



