72 
INSUBORDINATION. 
a valuable contribution to them, and may perchance, 
like some more ostentatious charities, include the libe¬ 
ral givers among those ‘whom it principally blesses. 
“March 18, Sunday.—I have a couple of men on 
board whose former history I would give something to 
know,—bad fellows both of them, but daring, energetic, 
and strong. They gave me trouble before we reached 
the coast of Greenland; and they keep me constantly 
on the watch at this moment, for it is evident to me 
that they have some secret object in view, involving 
probably a desertion and escape to the Esquimaux 
settlements. They are both feigning sickness this 
morning; and, from what I have overheard, it is with 
the view of getting thoroughly rested before a start. 
Hans’s departure with the sledge and dogs would give 
them a fine chance, if they could only waylay him, of 
securing all our facilities for travel; and I should not 
be surprised if they tried to compel him to go along 
with them. They cannot succeed in this except by 
force. 
“ I am acting very guardedly with them. I cannot 
punish till I have the evidence of an overt act. Nor 
can I trust the matter to other hands. It would not 
do to depress my sick party by disclosing a scheme 
which, if it could be carried out fully, might be fatal to 
the whole of us. All this adds to my other duties 
those of a detective policeman. I do not find them 
agreeable. 
“March 19, Monday.—Hans got off at eleven. I 
have been all right in my suspicions about John and 
