CHAPTER XXIX. 



THE MAIN PARTY SENT BACK. — PLUNGING INTO THE HUMMOCKS AGAIN. - 

 ADVANTAGES OF DOGS. —CAMP IN AN ICE-CAVE. — NURSING THE DOGS. — 

 SNOW-BLINDNESS. — A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. — CAPE HAWKS.— CAPE NA- 

 POLEON—STORM STAYED. — GRINNELL LAND LOOMING UP. — DISCOVERING 

 A SOUND. —RAVENOUS DISPOSITION OF DOGS. — A CHEERLESS SUPPER.— 

 CAMPING IN THE OPEN AIR.— PROSTRATION OF MEN AND DOGS.— MAKING 

 THE LAND AT LAST. 



April 28th. 



I sent the main party back this morning. The 

 separation was quite affecting. They were the worst 

 used-up body of men that I have ever chanced to see. 

 I accompanied them for a short distance, and, with 

 much sadness, parted from them and returned to 

 camp. Upon looking around to see what progress 

 they were making, I observed that they had halted 

 and were facing toward us, evidently designing to 

 give us three parting cheers. But the case was hope- 

 less — there was not a squeak left in them. Soon 

 after the party had gone, we plunged again into the 

 hummocks. We had a terrible ridge to get over, and 

 took only half the cargo, intending to return for the 

 balance. Knorr's sledge broke down, and it was re- 

 paired with difficulty. Jensen's sledge tumbled over 

 a declivity which we were descending, and injured a 

 leg of one of the dogs. The poor animal was turned 

 loose, and has hobbled along with us to camp. We 

 made about a mile and a half, and then turned back 

 for the balance of the stores. This mile and a half 

 has, by the tortuous route pursued, been prolonged 



