132 FOUR YEARS IN THE WHITE NORTH [Jan. 



But within a few minutes there was another raid upon harnesses, sledge 

 lashings, and all skins in sight. To sleep was impossible; therefore 

 with wliip in hand all night I dozed, and walked, and struck, guarding 

 what might be our life; for if harnesses were eaten and lashings 

 bitten from our sledges travel would be impossible in this deep snow 

 with only one pair of snow-shoes. 



January 13th, Wednesday. — This morning we found it blowing 

 and snowing. Knowing by the feel that it must be a southerly wind, 

 we left camp with the wind in our faces, hoping to reach something, 

 at least an iceberg, where there might be snow for a snow house. 



We have plodded on through deep snow all day, slightly varying 

 our course now and then, suspecting that the wind was changing 

 to the southwest. 



The surface has been absolutely level — not a crack, not a press- 

 ure ridge, not an iceberg. Were we out to sea or in one of the 

 deep bays? No one knew. Upon my asking each one in which 

 direction he judged the course to be or Cape Seddon to lie, no two 

 agreed. One would have us head out into the middle of Smith 

 Sound, one back toward Cape York, one toward the south, and two 

 east. 



We turned at right angles to our course and headed toward what 

 I thought must be land. Gradually the pace grew slower and 

 slower, and finally all sledges stopped. We were all plainly tired and 

 lacked stamina. We have had no meat now for a week, and only 

 about four ounces of biscuit a day (one-eighth of a ration), with tea 

 and coffee strong enough to kill a Nascaupee Indian. 



Each man dropped on his sledge; then lying in the snow, with 

 backs against our sledges for shelter, we dropped off to sleep. 



Awaking an hour later, somewhat chilled, I called all the men 

 and advised that we construct some kind of a house from our sledges, 

 which we have done by turning them over and covering them with 

 skins as a protection against the snow, which is now falling rapidly. 



Each man is standing a tlu-ee-hour watch against the dogs armed 

 wdth a whip. 



January IJtth, Thursday, — Snow falling all day and very dark. 

 We are down to dog meat. Have killed three to-day, cooking one 

 for ourselves and feeding two to the pack. The dead had hardly 

 finished breathing when they were literally gobbled up. 



The dogs are getting weak. Two of Tanquary's dropped yester- 

 day in harness; one got away and started back on the trail. The 

 poor thing has visions of food somewhere in the north. May he 

 reach it! 



All our biscuit are gone. The outlook from now on was dog 



