Some willows being discovered in a valley near us I proposed to halt the party there whilst Dr.Richardson went back to visit them.

I hoped too that when the sufferers received the information of a fire being kindled at so short a distance they would be cheered, and use their utmost efforts to reach it, but this proved a vain hope.

The Doctor found Vaillant about a mile and a half in the rear, much exhausted with cold and fatigue.

Having encouraged him to advance to the fire, after repeated solicitations he made the attempt, but fell down amongst the deep snow at every step.

Leaving him in this situation the Doctor went about half a mile farther back to the spot where Credit was said to have halted and, the track being nearly obliterated by the snowdrift, it became unsafe for him to go farther.