SE AKC HING-P ART Y EXHAUSTED . — AUTHOR PERSEVERES. 233 



sight that could make this provision should have kept in reserve 

 the strength which the exigencies of our undertaking required. 



" We were all invigorated by the repast, and by resting, though 

 only for the space of fifteen minutes. 



"At 1 30 P.M. we resumed our march. We were now on dan- 

 gerous ice, near the mouth of Field Bay, the tracks of the lost one 

 still leading us seaward. A heavy sea might take us beyond our 

 power to return. Every one felt that if Brown continued the 

 course in which we were then following him, he must have ar- 

 rived at a point where he had been carried out to sea on some 

 floe. 



" Most of our little company felt that they could not go farther, 

 so exhausted were they. Sam Wilson was the first of the five to 

 declare he would not ; he said he could not go farther, although 

 he was one of the forward ones of the morning. Yet he did con- 

 tinue on with us until ten minutes past two P.M. They felt they 

 had tried to perform their duty. This was a terrible blow to me. 

 I felt that I could not give it up so, discouraging as was my con- 

 dition. I resolved that, so long as God should spare my strength, 

 I would follow on and on ; and, knowing the risk, I did not feel 

 that I could take the responsibility of persuading any one to ac- 

 company me. Up to this time the course of the tracks was tor 

 tuous — now sweeping almost in circles, now to southeast, now to 

 the east, now to the northeast, now to the south, but mainly lead- 

 ing to the open sea, far to the east. I regretted much that some 

 one of us had not thought to bring along a snow-knife. With 

 this simple instrument in hand, I would have taken the responsi- 

 bility of inducing some one to continue on with me. With this 

 we could have erected an igloo for the night, or any other time, 

 if we should be overtaken by a gale or storm before our return. 

 Fifteen minutes after two P.M. I left my companions, who had 

 resolved to return, and proceeded on alone. I knew God would 

 be with me in my work. I had not proceeded far before I was 

 overtaken by William Johnston, who said, ' I have resolved that 

 I will accompany you rather than return now. I do not feel that 

 I have more than strength enough left than would enable me to 

 return to the vessel ; but I may feel better soon. John was my 

 shipmate, and I loved him. I shall ever regret, perhaps, if I re- 

 turn now.' 



"As we passed on together, we were soon encouraged by find- 

 ing the tracks bending away from the direction of Davis's Straits. 



