52 RIO TO TERRA DEL FUEGO CHAP, in 



could not be half a mile across. Our people seemed well, 

 though cold, and Mr. Buchan was stronger than we could 

 have expected. I undertook to bring up the rear and see 

 that no one was left behind. We got about half-way very 

 well, when the cold seemed to have at once an effect in- 

 finitely beyond what I have ever experienced. Dr. Solander 

 was the first to feel it : he said he could not go any farther, 

 but must lie down, though the ground was covered with 

 snow, and down he lay, notwithstanding all I could say to 

 the contrary. Eichmond, a black servant, now also lay 

 down, and was much in the same way as the Doctor. At 

 this juncture I despatched five in advance, of whom Mr. 

 Buchan was one, to make ready a fire at the very first con- 

 venient place they could find, while I myself, with four more, 

 stayed behind to persuade the Doctor and Eichmond to 

 come on if possible. With much persuasion and entreaty 

 we got through the greater part of the birch, when they both 

 gave out. Eichmond said that he could not go any farther, 

 and when told that if he did not he must be frozen to death, 

 only answered that there he would lie and die ; the Doctor, 

 on the contrary, said that he must sleep a little before he 

 could go on, and actually did so for a full quarter of an 

 hour, after which time we had the welcome news of a fire 

 being lit about a quarter of a mile ahead. I then undertook 

 to make the Doctor proceed to it, and, finding it impossible 

 to make Eichmond stir, left two hands with him who seemed 

 the least affected by the cold, promising to send two to 

 relieve them as soon as I should reach the fire. With 

 much difficulty I got the Doctor to it, and as soon as two 

 men were properly warmed sent them out in hopes that 

 they would bring Eichmond and the others. After staying 

 about half an hour they returned, bringing word that they 

 had been all round the place shouting and hallooing, but 

 could not get any answer. We now guessed the cause of 

 the mischief: a bottle of rum, the whole of our stock, was 

 missing, and we soon concluded that it was in one of their 

 knapsacks, and that the two who were left in health had 

 drunk immoderately of it, and had slept like the other. 



