ACROSS THE ICE-FIELD, 26 1 useless and deserted, but erected at the cost of so much labour and so much anxiety. " Farewell, farewell, to our poor Arctic home ! " exclaimed Mrs Barnett, waving her hand for the last time; and all sadly and silently resumed their journey. At one o'clock the detachment arrived at Cape Michael, after having rounded the gulf which the cold had imperfectly frozen over. Thus far the difficulties of the journey had not been very great, for the ground of the island was smooth compared to the ice-field, which was strewn with icebergs, hummocks, and packs, between which, practic- able passes had to be found at the cost of an immense amount of fatigue. Towards the evening of the same day the party had advanced several miles on the ice-field, and a halt for the night was ordered ; the encampment was to be formed by hollowing out snow-houses in the Esquimaux style. The work was quickly accomplished with the ice-chisels, and at eight o'clock, after a salt meat supper, every one had crept into the holes, which are much warmer than anyboay would imagine. Before retiring, however, Mrs Barnett asked the Lieutenant how far he thought they had come. " Not more than ten miles, I think," replied Hobson.
- ' Ten from six hundred ! " exclaimed Mrs Barnett. *' At this rate,
it will take us three months to get to the American continent ! " " Perhaps more, madam," replied Hobson, " for we shall not be able to get on faster than this. We are not travelling as we were last year over the frozen plains between Fort Reliance and Cape Bathurst ; but on a distorted ice-field crushed by the pressure of the icebergs, across which there is no easy route. I expect to meet with almost insurmountable difficulties on the way; may we be able to conquer them ! It is not of so much importance, however, to march quickly as to preserve our health, and I shall indeed think myself fortunate if all my comrades answer to their names in the roll-call on our arrival at Fort Reliance. Heaven grant we may have all landed at some point, no matter where, of the American continent in three months' time ; if so, we shall never be able to return thanks enough." The night passed without incident ; but during the long vigil which he kept, Hobson fancied he noticed certain ill-omened trem- blings on the spot he had chosen for his encampment, and could
