102 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



floe on which they were was found to be near Littleton 

 Island. The party took to their boats, intending to make 

 for the land and to look for the Polaris, but a breeze 

 sprang up and obliged them to haul the boats on the ice. 

 Soon after this, the Polaris was seen rounding a point 

 8 or 10 miles away. Signals were made, but were 

 not noticed by those on the vessel. After this, the floe 

 drifted away from land towards the west coast, then 

 across to the neighbourhood of Northumberland Island, 

 and finally southwards to the east of the Carev Islands. 



The Esquimaux during this time were successful in 

 capturing a number of seals. The provisions were served 

 out by weight, 11 oz. being a day's allowance. 



During October three snow-houses were built. By 

 November the temperature became very low, and the 

 effects of exposure and want of food began to tell on the 

 party. Some of the men trembled when they tried to 

 walk, and the Esquimaux children often cried with hunger, 

 although all was given them that could possibly be spared. 

 The services of Joe and Hans were invaluable : without 

 them, the chances of life would have been very much 

 diminished. So keen had the appetites of the party 

 become that the seal-meat was eaten uncooked, with the 

 skin and hair on. 



On the 7th December the latitude of 74° 4' was reached. 

 During this month the allowance of food was 16 oz. 

 Christmas was celebrated by an extra meal. At break- 

 fast, an additional ounce of bread made the soup a 

 little thicker than usual. New Year's Day did not pass 

 so well. One of the party described the dinner as 

 " mouldy bread and short allowance. 1 ' Captain Tyson 

 stated that he had dined " on about 2 feet of frozen entrails 

 and a little blubber." 



On the 6th January 187-3 the latitude was 

 approximately 72° 7'. On the 15th of this month the 



