234 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



Our feelings of hope were soon increased almost to those of joy, 

 for we found the main course of the tracks now led west, as if 

 John had seen the mountains westward, and to them was attempt- 

 ing to make his way, and then follow them up to the point where 

 he left the land. But how soon was this cup dashed from our 

 hopeful lips ! The steps of the lost soon circle around to the 

 southeast, then east, carrying us back again. For fifteen minutes 

 we followed a true course west. Hope lifted us up again, and 

 quickened our steps. At last they turned, circling to the south ; 

 thence around all the points of the compass, crossing, for the first 

 time, his own tracks. This occurred one hour after parting com- 

 pany with our men, whom we had left to return. Having follow- 

 ed his footprints around this circle of twenty rods radius, in less 

 than three minutes another circle occurs. He now strikes due 

 north. With bounding, almost happy hearts, we follow, for this 

 course leads almost directly to the vessel. The channel of water 

 leading to Bear Sound of Frobisher was only ten miles due south 

 of us. This place, though of historical and geographical interest 

 to me, was as naught in the work I was now performing. 



"But how oft is man doomed to disappointment! The tracks 

 turn again in a circle. Now they come in rapid succession. 

 Round and round the bewildered, terror-stricken, and almost 

 frozen one makes his way. Five circles, one interlocking anoth- 

 er, does the lost man make ; then strikes out, and continues two 

 more—in all, twelve circles did John make within less than two 

 miles. 



"During our protracted search, I and my companion often 

 threw ourselves flat upon the hard snow that covered the sea-ice. 

 This gave us rest. At one of these resting-places I fell instantly 

 into a sound sleep. Had I been alone, I know not what would 

 have been the result ; but Johnston roused me after considerable 

 exertion, and we pressed on. Every now and then we came to 

 places where the lost one had seated himself to rest. In all, we 

 found eight such places. Just before the company parted, we 

 came to a spot where John had made a hole down into the snow, 

 evidently with the desire to get some of the most compact with 

 which to quench his thirst. During this whole search we made 

 frequent calls on ' John' by loud shouting. 



"At four o'clock, while following the tracks, which were then 

 tending northward, I thought I heard the cry of dogs. I threw 

 back my hood, which is attached to the jacket in the Innuit way, 



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