316 REFLECTIONS ON THE PROSPECT. 



April 25th. 



A most distressing day. The sledge was repaired 

 in the morning with much difficulty, but not so that 

 it held without renewal through the march. The 

 traveling grows even worse the further we proceed. 

 The hummocks are not heavier, but the recent snows 

 have not been disturbed by the wind and lie loose 

 upon the surface, making the labor of dragging the 

 sledge much greater than before, even in those few 

 level patches with which we have been favored since 

 setting out in the morning. 



My party are in a very sorry condition. One of 

 the men has sprained his back from lifting ; another 

 has a sprained ancle ; another has gastritis ; another 

 a frosted toe ; and all are thoroughly overwhelmed 

 with fatigue. The men do not stand it as well as the 

 dogs. 



Thus far I have not ventured to express in this 

 journal any doubts concerning the success of this un- 

 dertaking ; but of late the idea has crossed my mind 

 that the chances of ever reaching the west coast with 

 this party look almost hopeless. The question of the 

 boat was decided days ago, and it becomes now a very 

 serious subject for reflection, whether it is really likely 

 that the men can get over these hummocks to the 

 west coast with even provisions enough to bring them 

 back. It is almost as much as they can do to trans- 

 port their own camp fixtures, which are neither 

 weighty nor bulky. 



April 26th. 



The progress to-day has been even more unsatis- 

 factory than yesterday. The men are completely 

 used up, broken down, dejected, to the last degree. 

 Human nature cannot stand it. There is no let up 



