THE POLKA UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 125 



heavily as we continued on our way. All surrounding 

 country was now completely hidden from view ; 

 it was even difficult for myself, who always brought 

 up the rear, to distinguish with clearness the form 

 of our guide, Mooldooyah, who notwithstanding 

 pursued his way unhesitatingly until the brief day- 

 light began to decrease, when he showed ominous 

 signs of wavering and doubt, stopping at times to 

 consult with his wife, and peering anxiously into 

 the fast thickening gloom. At last, after descending 

 a hill, and proceeding for a short time along a level 

 surface, Mooldooyah came to a determined halt, and 

 realised our fears of his having been misled by telling 

 us that we were now on salt-water ice, probably only 

 an inlet of the sea, but he did not know what or 

 where — in fact, that he had lost his way in the snow- 

 fall and darkness, and that we must wait until moon- 

 rise for hght and guidance. This would not happen 

 for four or five hours, so we sat ourselves down 

 contentedly to wait for the advent of the queen of 

 night to relieve us from our difficulties. We proposed 

 indeed to show the direction of the land by compass ; 

 but Mooldooyah rejected the offer as of little use, as 

 even then he would be imable to find the road. 

 Fortunately the fall of snow had brought a moderation 

 of the cold, from which therefore we suffered little ; 



