THE RESCUE PARTY. 



485 



make footsteps for the others. No one except Lamb and myself 

 could hold out longer than five minutes at a time in making these 

 tracks. The snow was deep, and much of the way was just hard 

 enough to almost bear our weight, but at each step down we would 

 go, knee deep, thigh deep. It is impossible to convey to any one 

 a correct idea of the nature of the traveling we experienced on 

 this journey. First one and then another of my companions 

 gave up and returned, leaving only Lamb and myself to proceed. 

 The wind had freshened to a gale, sweeping the snow directly 

 into our faces, and cutting us like powdered glass. The cold was 

 intense. What could we do ? Persevere ? Yes, while I had any 

 hope at all of effecting the object for which we had set out. 



Lamb tried hard to persevere ; but, finally, he too had to aban- 

 don the task as hopeless. The dogs were unable to get on, more- 

 over, and I was at last reluctantly obliged to turn my face again 

 toward the ship, having decided that it was my duty to return to 

 save the living rather than to strive to reach one who might be 

 already dead. Never had I experienced harder work than in 

 traveling back. The condition of Lamb was such that I feared 

 for his life if we did not soon get on board. Every few steps the 

 snow had to be broken down to make a passage. It was of God's 

 mercy that I bad strength enough to hold up, else both of us 

 must have perished. Occasionally I threw myself down on the 

 ice or snow, thoroughly exhausted ; then I would start up, arouse 

 Lamb, who seemed to be verging toward that sleep which in cold 

 regions becomes the sleep of death, and once more battle onward. 



During this hard passage back to the vessel my noble dog Bar- 

 bekark was like a cheering friend ; as now and then I lay almost 

 exhausted upon the snow for a moment's rest, he danced around 

 me, kissing my face, placing himself by my side, where I could 

 pillow my head upon his warm body. ISTo one who knew his 

 characteristics could fail to perceive that he realized the critical 

 situation of Lamb and myself. He would bound toward me, 

 raise himself on his hinder legs, place his paws upon my breast, 

 and glance from me toward the vessel, from the vessel to Lamb, 

 then leap away, leading the sledge-team on a distance ahead, there 

 to wait till we again came near, the few dogs and the soft state 

 of the snow preventing us from riding. 



I was indeed a happy man as I walked into the gangway of 

 the George Henry, and learned that all my company were safely 

 back to its shelter. 



