780 



THE POLAR WORLD. 



parted. A steam launch, the little Juniata, belonging to the large Juniata, was here. 

 She had gone as far northward as she could, but had learned nothing of the Polaris. 



On the 12th of August the Tigress pointed her prow northward, and soon passed 

 Cape York, keeping as close to the shore as the ice would permit, and all the time 

 watching for any signal that might be made from the land. But the ice-bound coast 

 gave back no signal that any human being saw the smoke from the steamer. 



On the 13th, the Tigress skirted Northumberland Island, near which, as was 

 believed, and as is noted on the map, on page 756, Tyson and his party were sepa^ 

 rated from the Polaris ; but some of that party, who were on board the Tigress, could 

 not recognize the spot ; and it was concluded that the separation had really taken 

 place at some place still further northward. At 9 in the evening, of the 14th, as 

 measured by the clock, though at this season, in these latitudes, there is scarcely any 

 distinction between day and night, they brought up at Littleton Island, standing out 

 darkly in the wintry sky. This looked like the place for which they were in search ; 

 and a boat was lowered and sent to shore to learn, if might be, whether the Polaris 

 had ever been there. The boat dodged among the icebergs and was soon lost to 

 view ; but before long a faint sound of cheering was heard from the shore. In an 

 hour or two the boat came back with tidings. The crew had landed, and saw dimly 

 in the distance a hut which had evidently been built by civilized men, while hurrying 

 down to meet them were a half dozen Esquimaux, who told them, as well as they 



DISCOVERY OF POLARIS CAMP. 



could, that this was the place where some white men had passed the preceding winter, 

 but that they had gone away a moon or two before, about the time when the ducks 

 began to hatch. 



These Esquimaux had been on a hunting expedition, and when they came here 

 they found the big ship tied fast to the shore, and the white men living in the hut. 

 When they went away, their head man had told the Esquimaux that they might have 

 the ship, and all there was left on board. But not long after, a gale of wind came 



