NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 163 



dog teams, with three of Mr. Fisher's party and 

 a number of natives, bound back to the settle- 

 ment to let their companions know that they had 

 found good quarters, and also to bring some of 

 them away with them. 



This was cheering news indeed — cheering be- 

 cause Mr. Fisher and his party were alive, cheer- 

 ing because it revived our desponding spirits, and 

 infused new hope into our minds that permanent 

 help was not far off. 



Those who accompanied the natives with the 

 dog teams saw a"t once how nearly exhausted the 

 captain and Cox were, but yet the natives were 

 unwilling to take them to the nearest settlement. 

 And, besides, there would have been as great 

 danger, and perhaps even greater, for us to have 

 ridden on the supposition that the natives had 

 been disposed to carry us, than for us to have 

 walked. We should have been chilled to death, 

 if we had remained still or quiet, in a very short 

 time. 



The direction to the nearest settlement on the 

 coast was pointed out to us ; and we were put 

 upon the track made by the dog teams, and told 

 that the distance to it was six or eight miles. 



The captain told Cox, " We must reach the 

 place before dark ; the last effort must now be 

 put forth — the best foot forward." It was now 



