RETURN OF ANIMALS AND BIRDS. 171 



the liver, as many persons had done before, the 

 effect being soon apparent by the skin pealing 

 off their bodies. No other inconveniences, how- 

 ever, were felt. Toward the beginning of March 

 their provision again became extremely scarce; 

 but, as if Providence had watched over their 

 necessities, at this time there came so many 

 bears about their dwelling, that they succeeded 

 in killing a sufficient number to serve them for 

 a length of time, and put beyond doubt the 

 chance of their being again reduced to want. 

 The feathery tribe now, also, revisited the coast, 

 and, with their arrival, the foxes came forth from 

 their holes in great numbers. The party by 

 means of traps, and whalebone springs, managed 

 to take a great many of both foxes and birds, 

 especially of the latter ; one species of which, 

 probably the Puffin, was easily captured, from 

 their difficulty in rising from the land, " owing," 

 as our narrator observes, " to the misplacement of 

 their legs." 



They were now able to stir abroad with com- 

 fort ; and, as the month of May approached, 

 they began to ascend the hills to look out for 

 vessels, but it was not until the 24th of that 

 month that there was any chance of one being 

 seen, for the ice extended as far as the eye could 

 reach. On this day, however, it broke up, and 



