1 8 The Musk-ox 



always disappointed hope that on each we should 

 sight caribou or musk-oxen. The Indians were 

 discouraged and sullen, as they usually did become 

 on such occasions; and this troubled me really 

 more than not finding food, for I was in con- 

 stant dread of their growing disheartened and 

 turning back to the woods. That was the possi- 

 bility which, since the very starting day, had at 

 all times and most seriously menaced the success 

 of my venture ; because we were pushing on in 

 the early part of March, at a time when the 

 storms are at their greatest severity, and when 

 none had ever before ventured into the Barren 

 Grounds. Therefore, in my fear lest the Indians 

 turn back, I sought to make light of our diffi- 

 culties by breaking into song when we stopped 

 to " spell "* our dogs, hoping by my assumed light- 

 heartedness to shame the Indians out of showing 

 their desire to turn homeward. 



How much I felt like singing may be imagined. 



So the day dragged on without sight of a mov- 

 ing creature, not even a fox, and it was past noon 

 when we laboriously worked our way up one par- 

 ticular ridge which seemed to have an unusual 

 amount of unnecessary and ragged rock strewn 



1 Rest. 



