OF THE POLAR SEA. 377 



warm, though he was so near the flame as to 

 burn his hair twice, and to add to our distress, 

 since we could not pursue them, three wolves 

 crossed the lake close to us. 



The night of the 7th was extremely stormy, 

 and about ten the following morning, on attempt- 

 ing to go on, we found it totally impossible, being 

 too feeble to oppose the wind and drift, which 

 frequently blew us over, and on attempting to 

 cross a small lake that lay in our way, drove 

 us faster backwards than, with every effort, we 

 could get forwards ; we therefore encamped 

 under the shelter of a small clump of pines, secure 

 from the south-west storm that was raging around 

 us. In the evening, from there being no tripe de 

 rochc, we were compelled to satisfy, or rather 

 allay, the cravings of hunger, by eating a gun 

 cover and a pair of old shoes ; at this time I had 

 scarcely strength to get on my legs. 



The wind did not in the least abate during the 

 night, but in the morning of the 9th it changed 

 to north-east, and became moderate. We took 

 advantage of this circumstance, and rising with 

 great difficulty, set out, though had it not been 

 for the hope of reaching the house I am certain, 

 from the excessive faintness which ahnost over- 

 powered me, that I must have remained where I 

 was. We passed the Slave Rock, and making 

 frequent halts, arrived within a short distance of 



