52 RIO TO TERRA DEL FUEGO CHAP. III 
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. Richmond, 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 Richmond to 
come on if possible. With much persuasion and entreaty 
we got through the greater part of the birch, when they both 
gave out. Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond 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. 
