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ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



down we went, oftener waist-deep than otherwise. Sometimes the 

 surface snow would appear firm, and then I had hope of all being 

 right for our getting forward, but the next moment we were sink- 

 ing to our hips in some treacherous spot. Occasionally I would 

 be making fair headway, when my Innuit guide would go down, 

 and, while trying to help her up, the snow-crust would give way, 

 and I then followed suit. It seemed as if it took three hours for 

 us to make one mile. 



After much struggling we arrived at a small rocky hill, and, 

 ascending it, an extensive view was before me. On the west 

 of us I could see a lakelet, long and narrow, that extended in a 

 northerly direction to the base of Alden Mountain. This lake- 

 let, on my way back, proved to be influenced in its waters by the 

 sea for two or three days at the periods of high tides — full and 

 change. 



It was now 8 P.M. We were both much fatigued, and yet it 

 would not do to remain. Not a blanket had we, nor any article 

 that would serve to keep warmth in us during the night, which, 

 however, was now daylight all through. The heavens were cov- 

 ered with portentous clouds, and many circumstances led me to 

 conclude it most advisable to return ; but I could hardly determ- 

 ine in what direction it would be best to go. There were the 

 plains, but they were covered deeply with the treacherous snow. 

 As I reflected, a passage in the " Good Book" came to my mind : 

 "Be angry, and sin not;" but, whether I sinned or not, God only 

 is my judge. This, however, I must confess : that as I walked on 

 that treacherous snow-crust, every now and then going down, 

 down, down, my temper at length would fly up, up, up, making 

 the scale-beam keep dancing for full three hours, until some fair 

 walking gave ease to my weary limbs and quiet to my ruffled 

 soul. 



On a careful survey of the routes we could follow, I finally de- 

 cided upon going to a low ridge which was farther west of us and 

 free from snow. That ridge extended in a line running to the 

 S.S.E., and lay in about the direction I wanted to go. To reach, 

 it we had to traverse along an abrupt sand-bank bordering the 

 lakelet already mentioned. We then came to a beautiful grassy 

 plain quite destitute of snow, and over which it was a perfect lux- 

 ury to travel. All my weariness and pain were quite forgotten 

 in walking across this carpet of Nature. It was surrounded by 

 rugged, sombre, rocky mountains, and consequently appeared to 



