STARVATION.— SERIOUS TIMES. 



203 



waited for more suitable weather. This morning, however, it was 

 absolutely necessary an attempt should be made, and as Koodloo 

 refused to go alone, I decided upon proceeding with him. 



We expected to be obliged to make one night's encampment 

 on the sea ice, now again, so far as we knew from that around us, 

 compact, and we hoped to reach the ship on the following day. 

 My only preparation was a sleeping bag and shawl, with a carpet 

 sack of sundries, and half a pound of baked mutton, which I had 

 carefully preserved to the present moment. 



At 8 A.M. we were in readiness, with a sledge and team of 12 

 dogs, most of them nearly starved. Bidding adieu to Ebierbing 

 and Tookoolito, Koodloo and I started on our journey. 



At first, much hummocky ice impeded the way, but this we got 

 through, and I anticipated a speedy trip. I was, however, disap- 

 pointed. Soon, deep snow appeared ; and though we struggled 

 for some miles due south, it was at length evident that to go on 

 like that would be impossible. Occasionally the sledge and dogs 

 contrived to get forward pretty well, but often they were so buried 

 as to be almost out of sight. Koodloo seemed to think of giving 

 it up, and I was so weak as to be hardly capable of dragging my- 

 self along. While in this dilemma as to what we should do — go 

 on, or return to the igloo — I perceived Ebierbing and Ugarng on 

 their way toward us. 



They had noticed my difficulty, and Ebierbing now came on 

 snow-shoes to offer his services in going to the ship in my stead. 

 I accepted the proposal, and he, with Koodloo, went forward, 

 Ugarng going in another direction, seeking for seal-holes, while I, 

 slowly and with difficulty, owing to my weakness, returned to the 

 igloo. I was a long time getting back, and when I arrived there 

 was obliged to throw myself on the snow platform quite exhausted. 



Toward evening, the weather then being fine, I walked on to a 

 hill that overlooked the bay, and with my glass saw Ebierbing 

 and Koodloo slowly wending their way along near where our 

 second igloo had been erected, the former leading. That night 

 and the following day I was hardly able to move. My weak 

 state, owing to want of food — all my daily fare being a small piece 

 of black or whale skin — had become very serious. 



In the evening I went to Ugarng's. He had just returned from 

 sealing, having been out two days and one night over a seal-hole. 

 All the reward he had, however, for his patient exertions was the 

 seal coming up and giving a puff ; then away it went, leaving 



