346 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Jim; 



pitiable state were yet making slow progress towards 

 the ship. 



On my first meeting them Markham and five men 

 were dragging two sledges, three hands at each ; each 

 sledge being freighted with two invalids and as much 

 of the tent furniture as was requisite to keep them 

 warm and to form as comfortable a couch as the cir- 

 cumstances and the rough road permitted. Lying on 

 the top of the third sledge, which was laden with • the 

 rest of the baggage and the provisions, and left about 

 half a mile in the rear, was a fifth invalid. 



Struggling along over the uneven, snow covered, 

 ice as best they could, were four other men whose 

 limbs becoming daily more cramped foretold that 

 they must shortly succumb ; they were gallantly holding 

 out to the last in order not to increase by their weight, 

 a moment sooner than could be avoided, the already 

 heavy loads being dragged by their very slightly 

 stronger companions. 



These poor fellows were in the habit of starting off 

 each morning before the main party, knowing that if 

 they experienced a bad fall or came to an unusually deep 

 snow-drift they could not recover themselves without 

 help. Frequently the sledge party overtook them 

 lying helpless on the ice ; but once raised on their 

 legs, with a smile and some happy cheerful expression, 

 again they would start on their painful and weary 

 journey. 



With the exception of Markham, who dragged to 

 the very last, and in addition had to pioneer a way for 

 the sledges before the daily start, the others remaining 

 on the drag-ropes were in a great measure dependent 



