270 ANXIETY FOR YOUNG'S RETURN. Chap. XVI. 



safed to this announcement was — " If you can eat dog, why, 

 so can I ! " 



But this great exposure and fatigue, together with ex- 

 tremely bad weather, and a most difficult coast-line to trace, 

 greatly injured Young's health ; he was compelled to return 

 to the ship on 7th June for medical aid, but purposing at all 

 hazards to renew his explorations almost immediately. Dr. 

 Walker met this determination by a strong protest in writing 

 against his leaving the ship again, his health being quite 

 unequal to it ; but after three days Young felt himself some- 

 what better, and, with a zeal which knew no bounds, set off 

 to complete his branch of the search, taking with him both 

 his sledge parties. 



From the Doctor's account I felt most anxious for his 

 return, lest his health, or that of his companions, should 

 receive permanent injury; in fact this was now my only 

 cause of anxiety. The season was rather forward here, and 

 advancing with unusual rapidity, rain and wind dissolving 

 the snow and ice ; there was much water in Bellot Strait, 

 extending from Half-way Island eastward to the table land, 

 and thence in a narrow lane to Long Island. 



After a day or two I could perceive a vast improvement 

 in Hobson ; and my own four men, with the exception of 

 Hampton who required a long rest, were in sound health ; 

 so also was my companion Petersen. On 24th June Chris- 

 tian shot two small reindeer, which gave us 170 lbs. of meat ; 

 a few days before that he shot a seal, which afforded two 

 sumptuous meals for all on board. 



The time had now elapsed during which Young expected 

 to remain absent, and supposing the difficulty of the transit 

 from the western sea to have still further increased, I set off 

 early on the 25th June with my four men, intending to visit 

 Pemmican Rock j but failing to come across him there, I 

 resolved to carry on provisions as far as Four River Point, 



