284 
EFFECTS OF HUNGER. 
again reduced our party, there was no apparent re¬ 
laxation of energy; and it was not until some days 
later that I found their strength seriously giving 
way. 
It is a little curious that the effect of a short allow¬ 
ance of food does not show itself in hunger. The first 
symptom is a loss of power, often so imperceptibly 
brought on that it becomes evident only by an acci¬ 
dent. I well remember our look of blank amazement 
as, one day, the order being given to haul the “Hope” 
over a tongue of ice, we found that she would not 
budge. At first I thought it was owing to the wetness 
of the snow-covered surface in which her runners were; 
but, as there was a heavy gale blowing outside, and I 
was extremely anxious to get her on to a larger floe to 
prevent being drifted off, I lightened her cargo and set 
both crews upon her. In the land of promise, off 
Crimson Cliffs, such a force would have trundled her 
like a wheelbarrow: we could almost have borne her 
upon our backs. Now, with incessant labor and stand¬ 
ing-hauls, she moved at a snail’s pace. 
The “Faith” was left behind, and barely escaped 
destruction. The outside pressure cleft the floe asun¬ 
der, and we saw our best boat, with all our stores, 
drifting rapidly away from us. The sight produced 
an almost hysterical impression upon our party. Two 
days of want of bread, I am sure, would have de¬ 
stroyed us; and we had now left us but eight pounds 
of shot in all. To launch the Hope again, and rescue 
her comrade or share her fortunes, would have been 
