230 NEAREST THE POLE 



by the stoppage of evaporation, gave signs of relaxing 

 its grip. Added to this, a considerable number of the 

 lakes, having found an outlet, had drained off and 

 were now mere shadows of their former selves. Matters 

 were mending a little, though we again pitched our tent 

 in wet snow, somewhat west of Camp Nares. The 

 old black Sipsu dog was killed here. 



Two large streams were negotiated in this march, 

 one by a detour round where it poured into a crack, 

 the other over a snow arch. 



When we began the next march, the sun was break- 

 ing through the fog; when we were off the middle of 

 Markham Bay, he had gained full victory, and from 

 then on till afternoon, he beat down upon us in a 

 blinding glare which burned my face and scorched 

 my eyes in spite of my big-vizored cap. 



It gave me the opportunity, however, to see the twin 

 peaks of Columbia from the west and north, and they 

 are a very striking sight. 



After we had our tea, the men went over to the 

 musk-ox meat which we had left on the outward trip. 

 They were a little anxious as to whether the foxes 

 had eaten it all or not. 



They returned a few hours later, gorged, and with 

 the information that the foxes had not disturbed the 

 meat, and that there was more than what we left. 

 Koolootingwah having killed two more musk-oxen 

 here on his return. They also brought back a hare 

 and one of Koolootingwah 's dogs, which had slipped 

 his harness and remained with the meat, and was now 

 in fine condition. All this was very gratifying. The 

 meat allowed me to remain here two sleeps, which 



