24 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



longer from eating snow : our mouths swelled, and some 

 of us became speechless. Happily the day was warmed 

 by a clear sunshine, and the thermometer rose to — 4° in 

 the shade : otherwise we must have frozen. 



" Our halts multiplied, and we fell half sleeping on 

 the snow. I could not prevent it. Strange to say, it 

 refreshed us. I ventured upon the experiment myself, 

 making Riley wake me at the end of three minutes ; and 

 I felt so much benefited by it that I timed the men in the 

 same way. They sat on the runners of the sledge, fell 

 asleep instantly, and were forced to wakefulness when 

 their three minutes were out. 



" By eight in the evening we emerged from the floes. 

 The sight of the Pinnacly Berg revived us. Brandy, an 

 invaluable resource in emergency, had already been served 

 out in tablespoonful doses. We now took a longer rest, 

 and a last stouter dram, and reached the brig at 1 p.m., 

 we believe without a halt. 



" I say we believe ; and here perhaps is the most decided 

 proof of our sufferings : we were quite delirious, and had 

 ceased to entertain a sane apprehension of the circum- 

 stances about us. We moved on like men in a dream. 

 Our footmarks seen afterward showed that we had steered 

 a bee-line for the brig. It must have been by a sort of 

 instinct, for it left no impress on the memory. Bonsall 

 was sent staggering ahead, and reached the brig, God 

 knows how, for he had fallen repeatedly at the track- 

 lines ; but he delivered with punctilious accuracy the 

 messages I had sent by him to Dr. Hayes. I thought 

 myself the soundest of all, for I went through all the 

 formula of sanity, and can recall the muttering delirium 

 of my comrades when we got back into the cabin of our 

 brig. Yet I have been told since of some speeches and 

 some orders too of mine, which I should have remembered 

 for their absurdity if my mind had retained its balance. 



