CHAPTER XVIII. 



PROLONGED ABSENCE OF MR. SONNTAG. — PREPARING TO LOOK FOR HIM. — 

 ARRIVAL OF ESQUIMAUX. — THEY REPORT SONNTAG DEAD. — ARRIVAL OP 

 HANS. — CONDITION OF THE DOGS. — HANS'S STORY OF THE JOURNEY. 



A FULL month had now elapsed since Sonntag and 

 Hans left us, and several days of the January moon- 

 light having passed over without bringing them back, 

 I had some cause for alarm. It was evident that they 

 had either met with an accident, or were detained 

 among the Esquimaux in some unaccountable man- 

 ner. I therefore began to devise means for determin- 

 ing what had become of them. First, I sent Mr. 

 Dodge down to Cape Alexander to pursue the trail 

 and ascertain whether they had gone around or over 

 the cape. The sledge-track was followed for about 

 five miles, when it came suddenly to an end, the ice 

 having broken up and drifted away since December. 

 Dodge could now only examine the passes of the gla- 

 cier ; and finding there no tracks, it was evident that 

 the party had gone outside. 



My next concern was to determine whether the 

 tracks reappeared on the firm ice south of the cape ; 

 and accordingly I prepared to start with a small foot 

 party, and cross over the glacier. In the event of 

 finding tracks below Cape Alexander, my course 

 would then be governed by circumstances ; but if the 

 track should not appear, it would be conclusive evi- 

 dence that the party was lost, and I would proceed 



