OF THE POLAR SEA. 465 



On the 5th the breezes were light, with dark cloudy weather, and 

 some snow. The Doctor and Hepburn were getting much weaker, 

 and the limbs of the latter were now greatly swelled. They came 

 into the house frequently in the course of the day to rest them- 

 selves, and when once seated, were unable to rise without the help of 

 one another, or of a stick. Adam was for the most part in the same 

 low state as yesterday, but sometimes he surprised us by getting 

 up and walking with an appearance of increased strength. His 

 looks were now wild and ghastly, and his conversation was often 



incoherent. 



The next day was fine, but very cold. The swellings in Adam's 

 limbs having subsided, he was free from pain, and arose this morning 

 in much better spirits, and spoke of cleaning his gun ready for 

 shooting partridges, or any animals that might appear near the 

 house, but his tone entirely changed before the day was half over ; 

 he became again dejected, and could scarcely be prevailed upon to 

 eat. The Doctor and Hepburn were almost exhausted. The 

 of one log of wood occupied the latter half an hour ; and the other 

 took as much time to drag it into the house, though the distance 

 did not exceed thirty yards. I endeavoured to help the Doctor, 

 but my assistance was very trifling. Yet it was evident that, in a 

 day or two, if their strength should continue to decline at the same 

 rate, I should be the strongest of the party. 



I may here remark that owing to our loss of flesh, the hardness 

 of the floor, from which we were only protected by a blanket, pro- 

 duced soreness over the body, and especially those parts on which 

 the weight rested in lying, yet to turn ourselves for relief was a 

 matter of toil and difficulty. However, during this period, and 

 indeed all along after the acute pains of hunger, which lasted but 

 three or four days, had subsided, we generally enjoyed the comfort 

 of a few hours' sleep. The dreams which for the most part, but not 

 always accompanied it, were usually (though not invariably,) of a 



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