without difficulty, I made up the fire, and put
some of the lynx flesh to roast before it.

It would not, I expected, prove very palatable, but it would enable me
to support existence. While the flesh was cooking I sat down inside my
hut and devoured the remainder of the hare. It was but a small animal,
and what I had left from the previous evening was not sufficient to
satisfy my hunger, which was somewhat ravenous after the many hours I
had gone without food.

I found in the morning, when attempting to move about, that my limbs
were very stiff, while my strength had greatly diminished, and I began
to doubt whether I should be able to accomplish the journey I proposed
without taking longer time to recruit. I was, however very unwilling to
delay longer than I could help, Alick would be anxiously looking for me.
I hoped that Sandy and the other men had escaped, for I knew that they
also, if they had strength sufficient, would not return home without
endeavouring to discover what had become of me.

I, however, still suffered a good deal of pain, and when I walked about
my legs felt stiff, and scarcely able to support my body; still, I hoped
that after I had breakfasted I should be sufficiently recovered to
commence my journey. The lynx flesh being cooked, I ate a portion, but
it was tough and unsavoury, and I was not sorry to finish my meal.

I then got up, with the intention, before starting, of watering my horse
at the stream, which I knew would not yet be frozen over, in spite of
the cold. Putting on the saddle and bridle, I led him along the edge of
the wood in search of some narrow part through which we could make our
way, for the wood, as far as I could see, bordered the stream for its
whole length. I went on for some distance in the direction from which I
had come, when I caught sight afar off of a dark object rising out of
the plain of snow.

On examining it carefully between my hands, placed on either side of my
head, I saw that it was a horse standing stock-still, and it appeared to
me that there was another small body at its feet. It naturally occurred
to me that the horse must be that of one of my companions, and
immediately throwing myself into the saddle I rode towards it. In a
short time I was convinced that I had not been mistaken--that the object
I saw was a horse, and that at its feet lay the body of a man.

Every moment was precious, for if he was still alive he must be in an
almost dying