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(24 1861 [[symbol: cross]] Mar 17th Capt. B. & myself concluded to [[strikethrough]] bury [[/strikethrough]] make his grave ashore at the base of a noble mountain bluff, or headland that would stand forever as the monument of the deceased. But it was soon found that not a stone could be moved - [[strikethrough]] He [[/strikethrough]] We then decided to make his grave upon the ice - on the very spot where he died - covering his form with the unspotted ices & snow that were in profusion around. This sad duty was performed with weeping hearts. When all was completed, with reverential awe to the God of the Heavens & Earth, we bent over the grave of our friend - shed the tears of mourning [[strikethrough]] assured [[/strikethrough]] attempered with the hope that: 'Now it is better with thy spirit'. With slow steps we moved from this, toward the dogs & sledge by wh. we were to travell for hours to our quarters. It was 1/2 past 5 when we left the grave of John Brown. Our team of 12 dogs made rapid progress some of the way while at times there seemed to be a [[underlined]] hugging [[/underlined]] of shoeing to snow that made this draught very heavy. We had some serious work to do to keep ourselves from freezing. Every now & then we took turns in jumping off & [[underlined]] running. [[/underlined]] Capt B. had unfortunately ventured out with a pair of civilization boots - having found his native ones too small. On the passage, he got Johnston to pull off one of his boots as he found one foot freezing - The simple, quick act of pulling this off gave J. a pile of frozen fingers. Half a doz. times was the nose of Johnston frozen - as often I rubber it into order! I took the precaution of keeping myself in [[end page]] [[start page]] 25 1861 [[symbol: cross]] Mar 17 active exercise by running along beside the sledge for more than half of the way home. Ther. was down to 59[[degree symbol]] [[strikethrough]] below [[/strikethrough]] freezing point with a fresh wind from the N.W. - thus we had some battering [[strikethrough]] with to do [[/strikethrough]] to do to keep from being subjects of King Cold. Every now & then threw myself flat on the sledge - then keeping myself to [[/strikethrough]] on [[/strikethrough]] the leeward of Capt. B. & the excellent dog driver Charley, I there with face upturned could see the Workings of the Almighty in the heavens above - The Aurora was spanning the blue vault - painting in beauteous colors that part of the sky which seemingly overhung the ever to be remembered spot where we had bid adieu of what remained of our friend, John Brown. What think you, my friends, were my thoughts as I had my eyes above - the glory of God's Creation shining upon me - as I was swiftly being carried along - the [[underlined]] consciousness [[/underlined]] in my breast of having performed on this Holy Day simply my duty - man to man? As we neared the vessel, groups of anxious friends came out to meet us. How they [[underlined]] peered [[/underlined]] among our number (all (4) of us then upon the sledge) [[underlined]] to see if John Brown was of our Company! [[/underlined]] None of us could speak - It was like a funeral train. A voice from some one trembling between [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] hope & fear asked as we drove up along side the G.H. 'Tell us, did you find him?' Yes, I replied- 'Was he dead'? continued the
Transcription Notes:
Reviewed. Incorrect insertions removed, irrelevant strikethroughs deleted, some transcription corrections.
