OF THE POLAR SEA. 



50 



piercingly cold, and the drift rendered it 

 difficult for those in the rear to follow the 

 track over the heights ; whilst in the val- 

 leys, where it was sufficiently marked, from 

 the depth of the snow the labour of walking 

 was proportionably great. Those in ad- 

 vance made, as usual, frequent halts, yet 

 being unable from the severity of the wea- 

 ther to remain long still, they were obliged 

 to move on before the rear could come up, 

 and the party, of course, straggled very 

 much. 



About noon Samandre coming up in- 

 formed us that Credit and Vaillant could 

 advance no further. Some willows being 

 discovered in a valley near us, I proposed 

 to halt the party there, whilst Dr. Richard- 

 son went back to visit them. I hoped too 

 that when the sufferers received the infor- 

 mation of a fire being kindled at so short a 

 distance they would be cheered, and use 

 their utmost efforts to reach it, but this 

 proved a vain hope. The Doctor found 

 Vaillant about a mile and a half in the rear, 

 much exhausted with cold and fatigue. 



