] hamandpreparingofhot

Onthe17th,calmweather,withclearsunshine,sothat sixofusclimbedupthemountains,whichwasavery difficultmatter,sincethewatercausedbythethaw,having afterwardsfrozen,madeitveryslipperywalking.Three ofusrolleddownagain;ourthreeothercomrades,getting tothetop,sawlittleicetoseawardandinthebay,sothat hadtherebeenanyshipsthereaboutstheywould,inall probability,havebeenquiteab]etocometothebay.A bear,keepingintheneighbourhoodofthetent,didnot comewithinrange.Weagaincookedapieceofreindeer, withagreatdealofgravy,inwhichwemixedsome lemon-juice;wedrankituptogetherwiththefatandall, anditgaveusagoodpurging;themeatwestewedwith plumsandraisins,anditwasstillofverygoodflavour. Wefedtheyoungbearswehadcapturedwithfoxes,and sometimeswithapieceofthewalrus.Afterthecookhad finishedwork,weremainedforthefirsttimewithoutafire tilltheevening.