We halted at ten to gather tripe de roche but it was so frozen that we were quite benumbed with cold before a sufficiency could be collected even for a scanty meal.

On proceeding our men were somewhat cheered by observing on the sandy summit of a hill, from whence the snow had been blown, the summer track of a man, and afterwards by seeing several deer tracks on the snow.

About noon the weather cleared up a little and, to our great joy, we saw a herd of musk-oxen grazing in a valley below us.

The party instantly halted and the best hunters were sent out; they approached the animals with the utmost caution, no less than two hours being consumed before they got within gunshot.

In the meantime we beheld their proceedings with extreme anxiety, and many secret prayers were doubtless offered up for their success.