NARES' EXPEDITION (1876) 129 



became badly frost-bitten. By depriving themselves of 

 their own warm clothing and at great personal risk, the 

 two officers, his only companions, succeeded in restoring 

 circulation. The following day, Petersen being no 

 better, they wisely determined to return with him to the 

 ship. But the gale of the 14th rendering it impossible to 

 travel, and the tent being very cold, they burrowed out a 

 hole in a snow-bank, and with the aid of a spirit-lamp 

 raised the temperature inside to 7°. With a noble dis- 

 regard of themselves, they succeeded in retaining some 

 slight heat in the man's body by alternately lying one 

 at a time alongside of him while the other was recovering 

 his warmth by exercise. On the morning of the 15th, the 

 patient being slightly better, and the weather permitting, 

 they started to return to the ship with the sledge lightened 

 to the utmost. 



"During the journey of 16 miles over a very rough 

 ground, although frequently very seriously frost-bitten 

 themselves, they succeeded in keeping life in the invalid 

 until they arrived on board. He was badly frost-bitten 

 in the face and feet. 



" Notwithstanding the professional ability and incessant 

 care of Dr. Colan, Petersen never recovered from the 

 severe shock which he had received, and eventually expired 

 from exhaustion three months afterwards.' 1 '' 



On the 20th March, Mr. Egerton, with Lieutenant 

 Rawson, accompanied by John Simmons and Michael 

 Regan, one of the crew of the Discovery, started with a 

 sledge drawn by seven dogs for Discovery Bay, the dogs 

 dragging 78 lb. each. 



They returned on the 4th April. They arrived at Dis- 

 covery Bay on the 25th of March, and left again on the 30th. 

 The temperature was very low during this journey, and 

 great difficulties as regards snow and ice had to be overcome. 



The great sledge-party to the west and north left the 

 9 



