378 
ARRANGEMENTS FOR 
our getting successfully through without the horses ; 
and, on the other hand, the very cheering prospect 
there was of all our most serious difficulties being 
terminated as soon as we had turned the western 
extremity of the Bight (to accomplish which, would 
not occupy more than six or seven days at the 
furthest when we moved on,) and the strong hopes 
that we might then reasonably entertain of falling in 
with some vessel, sealing or whaling upon the coast, 
and from which we might obtain a fresh supply of 
provisions. All my arguments were fruitless. 
With the characteristic obedience and fidelity with 
which he had ever served me, he readily acquiesced 
in any plan I might decide upon adopting ; but I 
perceived, with pain, that I could not convince him 
that the view I took was the proper one, and that 
the plan I intended to follow was the only one which 
held out to us even the remotest hopes of eventual 
safety and success. 
Finding that I made little progress in removing 
his doubts on the question of our advance, I resolved 
to pursue the subject no further, until the time for 
decision came, hoping that in the interim, his 
opinions and feelings might in some degree be 
modified, and that he might then accompany me 
cheerfully. The important and pressing duty of re- 
covering at once the stores we had left behind, now 
claimed my attention. The overseer, with his usual 
anxiety to save me from any extra labour, kindly 
