Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/339

318 course leading up the bay to the land-route. In a short time I had overtaken the party, which had been detained by one of the dogs giving out. Casting it off, I took a seat upon the sledge, and away we went merrily toward the pass. As we drove along we were a curious sight to behold, for we resembled a living snow-bank. We ascended the pass on foot, crossed the summit, descended on the other side, and again made the sea-ice of Field Bay. Here two more of our dogs gave out, and we cast them adrift, though they still followed us. We had nine remaining, and this made a good team. We rested half an hour, then started again, the Innuits endeavouring to find their way, as usual, by the previous sledge-tracks; but we had to go this way and that way, in and out among the numerous islands covering the head of the bay, until finally all traces of our route were lost. Nevertheless, they would have found a course to the ship, though, perhaps, with some delay and difficulty, but I saved all this by using my compass, and thus directing them which way to go, and by 9 we were on board, having been absent only 22½ hours. The following day, May 29th, was the anniversary of our departure from the United States. My thoughts at that time I find mentioned in my diary as follows:— "One year ago to-day the George Henry sailed from New London. It seems to me a short year, though spent in regions that, to many civilized men, would be repulsive, and would appear unqualified desolation. Still, I like this country—not as a place in which to spend all my life, if it be one of four-score and ten years, but for work to be continued three or five years."

On the following day, as there appeared to be some indications of its turning out fine, I thought of taking a trip to a place called by the Innuits Sing-ey-er, Accordingly, I procured the services of Ebierbing and started; but in two hours afterward there came on thick weather, and every indication of a storm. We had, therefore, to abandon the journey and