LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT ROSS. 
503 
nourishment or strength, from so flaccid and watery an aliment 
as fish. 
On the 26th, as the steward was returning- from a shooting- 
excursion, he espied at a distance a fox, which for a time stood 
and looked at him, and then darted off, dragging something after 
him, and on arriving at the ship, he discovered that the fox, which 
he had seen, was no other animal, than the identical fox, which 
had previously made his escape, and caught again on the follow¬ 
ing day, in the trap; his cunning, however, taught him in future 
to avoid a trap, and no further tidings were heard of him, during 
the stay of the Victory. 
The sledge, the travelling stove, and the tent, were now com¬ 
pleted, and the provisions were got ready to take out for Com¬ 
mander Ross, according to the agreement made with him, 
previously to his departure; but on the following day, being 
Sunday, the 1st May, divine service was scarcely over, and the 
men on deck, than Commander Ross was seen coming over the 
ice by himself; having left his party on that morning, at 3 
o’clock, about twenty miles from the ship. The reason of his 
return without his party, was, on account of one of his men 
having his foot severely bitten by the frost; and he left orders 
to his party, to start on their return to the ship, at 8 o’clock, in 
order that Taylor, whose leg was hurt, might be got on board 
the same night. At half past eleven, nine hands were sent for¬ 
wards, towards the travelling party, for the purpose of assisting 
them, as perhaps the very life cf Taylor depended upon getting 
him under the surgeon’s care, with all possible expedition. 
At half past three, three Esquimaux arrived, bringing with 
them a seal and five salmon, the weight of which was thirty 
pounds, being the largest fish, which had as yet been seen in 
that part of the country. They left the ship at half past eight, 
giving their solemn promise, that they w r ould return in three 
days, bringing more fish with them. As they left the ship, they 
sang out, Menek luma, menek luma ,—that is, “for the next seal, 
knife to be well cleaned and sharpened.” 
At half past eleven at night, the whole of the party returned, 
and Taylor was immediately taken to the surgeon. His foot 
