400 FURTHER EXPERIENCES OF DR. HAYES 



or had we still gone forward, there was perhaps not one of us who would 

 not, unconscious of the risk, have stopped by the way for a short nap, through 

 which we would have passed into the sleep which knows no waking. 



"We had just sense enough left to enable us to appreciate each other's 

 wants, and to give assistance, the stronger to the weaker; to close up tem- 

 porarily the hole in the roof; to carry in our frosted blankets, and to spread 

 them upon the breck underneath those which we had left behind. We knew 

 when we awoke next day that these things had been done; but none of us 

 retained more than the most vague impression as to the manner of their 

 execution. The intense cold, operating upon our feeble and overtaxed bodies, 

 had made wild work with our mental faculties. 



"We lay down in the darkness ; and, through hours uncounted, slept and 

 shivered away the effects of our unfortunate journey." 



The next start was made with better sledges and dogs, and was suc- 

 cessful. They reached the ship, badly frost-bitten and almost dead. 



"We were soon upon the land-ice under Cape Grinnell. The dogs, ex- 

 cited by the unceasing cracking of the merciless whips, galloped at the top 

 of their speed. It was a race of life and death. 



"The hull of the dismantled brig at length burst into view; and a few 

 minutes afterward we were at its side. So much were my senses blunted by 

 the cold that I remember scarcely any incident of our going on board, ex- 

 cept that Dr. Kane met us at the gangway, and, grasping me warmly by the 

 hand, led us into the fireless, frost-coated cabin. It was in the middle of the 

 night, and all hands except the watch were sleeping. Ohlsen was the first 

 to catch the sound of our coming; and springing from his cot as I entered 

 the door, he folded me in his arms ; and, after kissing me with Scandinavian 

 heartiness, he threw me into the warm bed which he had just vacated." 



■ And so ended one of the most desperate of the ventures made in the land 

 conquered by Cook and Peary. 



