THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 601 



Starvation was setting its seal fast on the party ; to save him- 

 self, Private Henry forgot his duty to his suffering comrades, and 

 as early as November 1st he began stealing provisions from the 

 scanty store. At first he was not suspected, though there was a 

 suspicion that theft had been committed, aim a threat was made 

 by the men to kill any one they might detect in such an act. 



On January 24th the party was near perishing from asphyxia, 

 and several of its members were unconscious. Private Henry, 

 during this terrible experience, was seen by one of the Esquimaux 

 to steal some of the bacon from the stores. He soon afterward 

 was taken ill from overloading his stomach, and vomited up bacon 

 undigested. Investigation was had and Henry proved guilty, not 

 only of this, but of several previous thefts. It was a terrible 

 Mate of affairs. Henry's indignant comrades demanded his 

 death. Over and over again he promised to reform, but this 

 did not still the clamor for his life. Lieut. Greely remonstrated 

 with the men, and all were quieted. 



A LECTURE. 



TAKING Henry in hand, Lieut. Greely represented to him the 

 immensity of his offense and pointed out to him the necessity for 

 concentrated action in the party if all would be saved. He 

 was then placed under guard for several weeks, until increasing 

 feebleness of the other members of the party rendered it neces- 

 sary for them to avail themselves of his personal services. 

 Shortly afterward he stole liquor from the stores and became in- 

 toxicated. Again his comrades clamored for his life, and again 

 Lieut. Greely restrained them. June 5th he again stole and car- 

 ried away some of the provisions. Lieut. Greely spoke firmly to 

 him, and told him it would be policy for him to stop. Said the 

 Lieutenant, ** For God's sake, Henry, as you seem to have no 

 moral sense, remember our lives depend upon our holding to- 

 gether!" With great earnestness Henry promised not to be 

 guilty of theft again. But Lieut. Greely felt he could not trust 

 him. After revolving in his mind their circumstances, he, on his 

 own responsibility, issued a written order, now in possession of 

 one of the survivors, commanding that Henry be shot on sight of 



