CHAPTER II. 
A BREAK DOWN-TIIE HUT IN A STORM-TWO NIGnTS IN THE 
HUT-FROST AGAIN-THE BACK TRACK—IIEALTn ROLE-MEDI¬ 
CAL TREATMENT-HEALTH FAILING-UNSUCCESSFUL HUNT-TIIE 
LAST BOTTLES. 
“January 29, Monday.—The dogs carried us to the 
lower curve of the reach before breaking down. I was 
just beginning to hope for an easy voyage, when Toodla 
and the Big Yellow gave way nearly together; the 
latter frightfully contorted by convulsions. There was 
no remedy for it: the moon went down, and the 
wretched night was upon us. We groped along the 
ice-foot, and, after fourteen hours’ painful walking, 
reached the old hut. 
“A dark water-sky extended in a wedge from Little¬ 
ton to a point north of the cape. Everywhere else the 
firmament was obscured by mist. The height of the 
barometer continued as we left it at the brig, and our 
own sensations of warmth convinced us that we were 
about to have a snow-storm. 
“We hardly expected to meet the Esquimaux here, 
and were not disappointed. Hans set to work at once 
28 
