TAKING TO THE LAND. 371 



north, but the scant rations which we had left behind 

 for the return journey were found to be insufficient 

 to support their strength, especially as they had, for 

 some time, Jensen's additional weight to carry. One 

 of them gave out completely, and died in a fit, during 

 the first day's journey in the hummocks ; two others 

 followed soon afterward; while another, having be- 

 come unable either to pull or follow, was shot. Much 

 to my surprise, as soon as the bullet struck the ani- 

 mal, wounding him but slightly and causing him to 

 set up a terrible cry, his companions in the team flew 

 upon him and tore him to pieces in an instant, and 

 those who were lucky enough to get a fragment of 

 him were tearing the flesh from his bones almost be- 

 fore the echo of his last howl had died away in the 

 solitude. 



The sea below Cairn Point was filled with loose ice, 

 evidently broken adrift by a very recent gale. By 

 keeping to the land-ice we managed to work our way 

 down the coast, and got around Cape Hatherton ; but, 

 below this, the ice-foot, too, was gone, thus obliging 

 us to take to the land. To cross the mountains with 

 our sledges was, of course, impracticable ; so we were 

 compelled to abandon them until such time as we 

 could come for them in a boat. 



The land journey was very tedious and tiresome, 

 exhausted and footrsore as we were already; but 

 we managed better than the dogs. Most of them 

 Bneaked away as soon as loosened from the sledges, 

 and would not follow us ; and when sought for could 

 not be found. I did not feel apprehensive for 

 them, as I supposed they merely needed rest, and 

 would follow our tracks to the vessel. Three of 

 them only stuck to us. One is the noble old beast^ 



