162 



VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. 



October 



this way we proceeded till 1.30 p.m., when we lunched 

 off the remains of the biscuit dust and frozen meat, not 

 caring to wait long enough to cook tea ; after which 

 we again set off, and, as there appeared no chance of 

 our reaching the ship with both sledges, I packed one 

 with the tent, lower robe, coverlet, waterproof sheet, 

 pick-axe, shovel, and snow-saw, and left it on the far 

 side of the nearest bay to the ship, about two and a 

 half miles distant. We now got on a little quicker, 



DOG-SLEDGE. 



and in due course I rounded the point, and arrived 

 on board the ship about 8 p.m., finding the ice very 

 sludgy, but far preferable to what we had been travel- 

 ling over. 



' Dogs are not of much use when the snow becomes 

 more than twelve inches deep : they are frightened 

 and unable fairly to exert their powers. On smooth 

 floes they are very rapid, but where men have to lend 

 a hand, the unanimity of action which prevails in a 



