96 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. MAY 



' I did not take one of Lieutenant Eawson's men to 

 fill up my crew, for I feared that the time might come 

 when he would have to carry Hand, and I suspected that 

 George Bryant, the captain of the sledge, was already 

 affected with the same disease. Thus it was that early 

 on the morning of the llth of May Lieutenant Eawson 

 left me, much to my regret, he making the best of his 

 way back, whilst I continued to advance with six men.' 



It will be most convenient here to follow Lieu- 

 tenant Eawson in his journey to Polaris Bay. 



Owing to two more of his crew breaking down, 

 leaving only himself and one man, E. Eayner, strong 

 enough to drag the sledge, they only succeeded in 

 reaching Polaris Bay on the 3rd of June, after a most 

 arduous journey on reduced rations, and during several 

 days of which Eawson was himself so badly affected 

 with snow-blindness that he had to pull the sledge 

 while blindfold. 



James Hand expired a few hours after their 

 arrival at Polaris Bay. George Bryant and Michael 

 Eegan were both attacked the former very severely 

 but knowing that his extra weight on the sledge would 

 endanger the lives of all, he manfully refused to the 

 last to be carried. It was entirely due to Lieutenant 

 Eawson's genial and inspiriting conduct and to his firm 

 command, that the crippled band succeeded in reaching 

 the depot. 



Four days subsequent to their arrival, Lieutenant 

 Fulford and Dr. Coppinger, with Hans and the dog- 

 sledge, arrived opportunely from examining Petermann 

 Fiord, and the invalids obtained the benefit of pro- 

 fessional advice. 



