OF THE POLAE SEA. 447 



account the particulars were deferred until another opportunity. 

 We were all shocked at beholding the emaciated countenances of 

 the Doctor and Hepburn, as they strongly evidenced their extremely 

 debilitated state. The alteration in our appearance was equally 

 distressing to them, for since the swellings had subsided we were 

 little more than skin and bone. The Doctor particularly remarked 

 the sepulchral tone of our voices, which he requested us to make 

 more cheerful if possible, unconscious that his own partook of the 

 same key. 



Hepburn having shot a partridge, which was brought to the house, 

 the Doctor tore out the feathers, and having held it to the fire a few 

 minutes, divided it into seven portions. Each piece was ravenously 

 devoured by my companions, as it was the first morsel of flesh any 

 of us had tasted for thirty-one days, unless indeed the small gristly 

 particles which we found occasionally adhering to the pounded bones 

 may be termed flesh. Our spirits were revived by this small supply, 

 and the Doctor endeavoured to raise them still higher by the prospect 

 of Hepburn's being able to kill a deer next day, as they had seen, 

 and even fired at, several near the house. He endeavoured, too, to 

 rouse us to some attention to the comfort of our apartment, and 

 particularly to roll up, in the day, our blankets which (expressly for 

 the convenience of Adam and Samandre,) we had been in the habit 

 of leaving by the fire where we lay on them. The Doctor having 

 brought his prayer-book and testament, some prayers and psalms, 

 and portions of scripture, appropriate to our situation, were read, 

 and we retired to bed. 



Next morning the Doctor and Hepburn went out early in search 

 of deer ; but, though they saw several herds and fired some shots, 

 they were not so fortunate as to kill any, being too weak to hold 

 their guns steadily. The cold compelled the former to return soon, 

 but Hepburn persisted until late in the evening. 



My occupation was to search for skins under the snow, it being 



