390 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. June 



in a north-west direction, or towards Conical Hill, 

 excited a good deal of interest. 



' Leaving the road-makers to follow in our track, 

 Parr and myself pushed on for the shore, which was 

 reached in about half-an-hour. We here observed the 

 recent traces of a dog-sledge and human footsteps. 

 Observed the tracks and heard the howling of a 

 wolf, but did not succeed in seeing it. On reaching 

 the,* depot we learned to our disappointment that 

 the Captain, May, and Feilden had only left for the 

 ship the previous day. This was very unfortunate. 

 Twenty-four hours earlier and we should have met 

 them. They had obtained three hares, which they 

 kindly cached in a crevice formed between two hum- 

 mocks for our use. Taking our letters, and carrying 

 the hares, we returned to our party ; and the road . 

 being completed, the sledges were dragged through, 

 and the tents pitched for the night on a small piece of 

 ice about 300 yards from the shore. 



« hth. — A beautifully bright clear day. To see the 

 sun again in all its glory is indeed a treat ; it seems to 

 invigorate us all, and appears even to instil new life 

 and energy into the invalids. Our supper last night 

 consisted of a hare to each tent, which was much 

 relished and will doubtless do good. By eleven we 

 were all once more on terra fir 'ma , after an absence of 

 over two months. 



' A strong south-westerly gale sprang up just before 

 halting for lunch, which did not add to the comfort of 

 our meal ; had excessively hard work in dragging the 

 sledges through the deep snow on the incline of 

 the hill ; 'blowing very hard, the squalls exceedingly 



