Then I started with my transit for the end of the low point (extremity of the foreshore) to select a place for a cairn, and take a few angles. After going less than a mile, I was obliged to give it up and return to camp, the saturated clayey earth letting my feet sink in nearly to the top of my boots at every step, and taking all my strength to pull out. With snowshoes I could have got along, but I had left those at the snow-bank a mile or more on the other side of the camp, and was too lazy to go after them. I was forcibly reminded of the travelling Trevor-Battye found in Kolguev.
After this I brought more rocks for the tent guys, then took a nap to make up for the previous night.
At 2 P. M. the men returned. They found at close quarters that the three deer seen from the summit of the cape had increased to six and a fawn, all of which were secured (three bucks and three does). They scarcely had the dogs fastened when yesterday’s fawn came trotting up to within fifty yards of the tent, then started off again.
Egingwah went after him, followed him up to the mother’s skin, and brought both in.
We all had another square feed, the dogs as well, more stones were added to the tent guys, and the men were soon snoring.
By this time the wind was blowing very fresh, clouds were gathering, and there was every indication that this spell of fine weather was at an end.
I had no reason to complain. It had lasted long enough for me to get and see what I wanted.
When we awoke about midnight, snow or, more likely, rain was so evidently imminent, that I had the men cover the deerskins with the floor cloths, feed the dogs to repletion, and sew up some holes in the tent. This was barely completed when the rain began, driving furiously before a strong southwest gale.
But with a waterproof tent, gravel underneath, all belongings that were not in the tent protected with waterproof covers, the dogs and ourselves well fed, and an ample supply of food at hand, we could take this kind of weather with a good deal of equanimity.
I quote from my Journal: