TAKING TO THE LAND. 371 



north, but the scant rations which we had left behind 

 for the return journej^ 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 bidlet 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 aw^ay 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 foot-sore as we were already ; but 

 we managed better than the dogs. Most of them 

 sneaked 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* 



