230 HANS'S STORY. 



assistance. A party was at once dispatched to bring 

 them in, Hans being cold and fatigued, I refrained for 

 the time from questioning him, and sent the weather- 

 beaten travelers to get warmed and fed. 



The two old people were found coiled up in a cave 

 dug in a snow-bank, and were shivering with the cold. 

 The dogs were huddled together near by, and not one 

 of them would stir a step, so both the animals and 

 the Esquimaux were bundled in a heap upon our 

 large ice-sledge, and dragged to the vessel. The Es- 

 quimaux were soon revived by the warmth and good 

 cheer of Hans's tent, while the dogs, only five in 

 number, lay stretched out on the deck in an almost 

 lifeless condition. They could neither eat nor move. 

 And this was the remnant of my once superb pack 

 of thirty-six, and this the result of a journey from 

 which I had hoped so much ! There was a mystery 

 somewhere. What could it all mean ? I quote from 

 my diary : — 



February 1st. 



Hans has given me the story of his journey, and I 

 sit down to record it with very painful emotions. 



The travelers rounded Cape Alexander without diffi- 

 culty, finding the ice solid ; and they did not halt until 

 they had reached Sutherland Island, where they built 

 a snow hut and rested for a few hours. Continuing 

 thence down the coast, they sought the Esquimaux at 

 Sorfalik without success. The native hut at that place 

 being in ruins, they made for their shelter another 

 house of snow ; and, after being well rested, they set 

 out directly for Northumberland Island, having con- 

 cluded that it was useless to seek longer for natives. 

 on the north side of the Sound. They had proceeded 

 on their course about four or five miles, as nearly as 



