OF THE POLAR SEA. 310 



no alternative. The extreme debility of the rest 

 of the party put the carrying him quite out of the 

 question, as he himself admitted; and it was 

 evident that the frequent delays he must occasion 

 if he accompanied us, and did not gain strength, 

 must have endangered the lives of the whole. By 

 returning he had the prospect of getting to the 

 tent where tripe de roche could be obtained, which 

 agreed with him better than with any other of the 

 party, and which he was always very assiduous 

 in gathering. After some hesitation he deter- 

 mined on returning, and set out, having bid each 

 of us farewell in the tenderest manner. We 

 watched him with inexpressible anxiety for some 

 time, and were rejoiced to find, though he got 

 on slowly, that he kept on his legs better than 

 before. Antonio Fontano was an Italian, and 

 had served many years in De Meuron's regiment. 

 He had spoken to me that very morning, and 

 after his first attack of dizziness, about his fa- 

 ther ; and had begged, that should he survive, I 

 would take him with me to England, and put him 

 in the way of reaching home. 



The party was now reduced to five persons, 

 Adam, Peltier, Benoit, Samandr^, and myself. 

 Continuing the journey, we came, after an hour's 

 walk, to some willows, and encamped under the 



