DISAPPOINTMENT AND SUFFERINGS. 181 



vigilance was repaid by the appearance of a bear, 

 which came so near that he was wounded from 

 the hut. The animal struggled very hard, and 

 at length broke away from the party, who were 

 very much weakened. They were, however, 

 determined not to allow this opportunity, indeed 

 their last hope, I may say, of procuring a fresh 

 meal, to escape while they had any strength 

 remaining, and, provided with lanterns, they 

 pursued the animal with all the ardour of men 

 on whose success in this exploit their very life 

 seemed to depend, but to no purpose ; the bear 

 escaped, and they made their way back, with 

 feelings which may more easily be imagined than 

 described. 



Three weeks after this, the hand of death put 

 an end to the sufferings of the first of the party, 

 the next day another died, and two days after, 

 a third. The four who remained contrived to 

 make coffins for their departed comrades, and 

 placed the bodies in them ; but they were not 

 able to carry them out of the house. The day- 

 light now began to dawn in the south, about 

 noon, and, as it increased, the foxes came about 

 the hut, and the party had fhe good fortune to 

 take one of them ; which for a while cheered 

 their drooping spirits, as they hoped to derive 

 great benefit from the use of its flesh. They 



