OF THE POLAR SEA. 75 



the snow fell so thick, that the men had 

 great difficulty in making a fire. This 

 proving insufficient to warm us, or even 

 thaw our shoes, and having no food to pre- 

 pare, we crept under our blankets. The 

 arrival in a well-known part raised the spi- 

 rits of the men to a high pitch, and we kept 

 up a cheerful conversation until sleep over- 

 powered us. The night was very stormy, 

 and the morning scarcely less so ; but, being 

 desirous to reach the house this day, we 

 commenced our journey very early. We 

 were gratified by the sight of a large herd 

 of rein-deer on the side of the hill near the 

 track, but our only hunter, Adam, was too 

 feeble to pursue them. Our shoes and 

 garments were stiffened by the frost, and 

 we walked in great pain until we arrived at 

 some stunted pines, at which we halted, 

 made a good fire, and procured the refresh- 

 ment of tea. The weather becoming fine 

 in the afternoon, we continued our journey, 

 passed the Dog-rib Rock, and encamped 

 among a clump of pines of considerable 

 growth, about a mile further on. Here we 



