ning the weather was still thick as pea-soup, with a
double-reef topsail breeze blowing in our teeth; but detention was
impossible, so we again packed up after a meal of chocolate and
biscuit, and facing towards Cape Walker, we carried the hummocks by
storm. Ignorance was bliss. Straight ahead, over and through every
thing, was the only way; and, fresh, hearty, and strong, we surmounted
tier after tier, which more light and a clearer view might only have
frightened us from attempting. Here, a loud cheer told where a sledge
had scaled the pile in its path, or shot in safety down the slope of
some huge hummock. There, the cry, one! two! three! haul! of a party,
and quizzical jokes upon name, flag, or motto, betokened that "Success"
or "True Blue" had floundered into a snow-wreath, above which the top
of the sledge-load was only to be seen, whilst seven red-faced mortals,
grinning, and up to their waists in snow, were perseveringly
endeavouring to extricate it; officers encouraging, and showing the
way; the men labouring and laughing. A wilder or more spirit-stirring
scene cannot be imagined.

A hard night's toil cleared all obstacles, and nothing but a fair,
smooth floe was before us, sweeping with a curve to the base of Cape
Walker; but a fresh difficulty was then met with, in the total absence
of hummock or berg-piece, by which to preserve a course in the thick,
foggy weather, that lasted whilst the warm south wind blew. Imagine,
kind reader, a grayish haze, with fast-falling snow, a constant wind in
the face, and yourself trying to steer a straight course where floe and
sky were of one uniform colour. A hand dog-vane was found the best
guide, for of course it was impossible to keep a compass constantly in
hand; and the officers forming in a line ahead, so as just to keep a
good sight of one another, were followed by the sledges, the crews of
which soon learned that the easiest mode of travelling, and most equal
division of labour, consisted in marching directly after one another;
and as the leading sledge had the extra work of forming the road
through the snow, and straining the men's eyes in keeping sight of the
officers, the foremost sledge was changed every half hour or hour,
according to their will.

[Headnote: _TRAVELLING BY NIGHT._]

It will be seen that we travelled by night, and hoped by such means to
avoid the glare of the sun, and consequent snow-blindness. It entailed,
however, at this early season of the