re of their rapidly
failing energies. They were still nine miles from home, and some men
wanted to lie down and sleep, another was frozen stiff, and another lay
down in the snow. A halt was necessary.

The tent was pitched: no fire could be lighted, as no one could hold the
materials for striking the flame. The worst patients were put inside
the tent, and then Kane and Godfrey pushed on to the camp for food.
They could only keep themselves awake by incessant talking all the way,
and Doctor Kane states they were neither of them entirely in their right
senses during this trying walk. They remember a bear which tore a
"jumper" that one of the men had thrown off on the previous day;
however, the animal did not mind the explorers at all. But Bruin had
upset the tent, and it was with much difficulty Kane and his companion
raised it. They then went to sleep, and Kane's beard was frozen to the
buffalo skin, so he had to be "cut out." By the time they had made
preparations, the remainder of the party arrived, and they all made for
the brig.

The remainder of the journey was scarcely accomplished with life. Many
ate snow, and their mouths swelled fearfully. Nearly all were
exhausted. At length they became delirious, and only reached the
_Advance_ by instinct, for they were all staggering along blindly when
Peterson and Whipple met them with some restoratives. This expedition
cost two men amputation, and two others died.

During the short summer some expeditions were organised, as the
_Advance_ remained immovable. Some discoveries were made, but the
expeditions ended in disaster. The Humboldt Glacier and Tennyson
Monument--the latter a column of ice, like an obelisk four hundred and
eighty feet high, on a pedestal--were visited. But nothing resulted
from the excursions but blindness, privation, and suffering. An attempt
was made to communicate with Sir E. Belcher on Beachey Island, but it
failed, and another winter in the ice had to be faced. Some men
preferred to leave the ship, but they returned after a while.

The winter passed drearily, amid privations which brought the men almost
down to the lowest pitch of despair but employment fortunately kept them
from the last depth, and preparations for a spring excursion cheered
them up. The Esquimaux were friendly, and a treaty was entered into
with them, which proved useful.

At last summer appeared. The 17th of May was fixed for the start; the
_Advance_ was t