112 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. JUNE 



Jenkins were now in a critical condition, but Paul 

 more so than Jenkins. 



' I felt the importance of getting them both to a 

 state of complete rest as quickly as possible, an opinion 

 in which Dr. Coppinger concurred ; so on the morning 

 of the 28th Dr. Coppinger and Hans, with the two 

 men on the eight-man sledge drawn by the dogs, 

 started for the Polaris Bay depot. Soon after, Lieu- 

 tenant Eawson and myself, having placed Craig and 

 Dobing on the five-man sledge, as well as the tent and 

 all the gear, but only two days' provisions, also started 

 for the same destination. Jones and Gray, who could 

 still walk, though slowly, came on behind. Fortu- 

 nately for us two, the wind helped us for some time ; 

 but later on, the travelling becoming very heavy, we 

 were obliged to camp, having accomplished a little 

 over three miles. 



' Next day, as we supposed the sledge on its way 

 back to us, and I was anxious to move the sick men 

 as little as possible, I determined to await its arrival. 

 This did not occur until 3 A.M. of the 30th of June ; 

 and the whole party were so done, dogs and men, that 

 they had supper and turned in. They brought me a 

 letter from Dr. Coppinger saying that he had. had a 

 very arduous journey, and had not reached the depot 

 until midnight. The extremely rapid thaw of the 

 snow on the plain obliged them to cross broad strips of 

 bare shingle, while the floe was so seamed with cracks 

 that they must have travelled double the distance in 

 looking for a road. The sick had borne the journey 

 well, and eaten with good appetite on their arrival ; 

 but from noon of the 29th, Paul had gradually grown 



