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(14 1861 Dec 18 Wed. At hIV-m30 Reached the top of Ridge. Here was a continuation of hard work. The snow of the land route is in excellent condition, being of hard surface & covering nearly all the rocks. But going down hill with a loaded sledge & team of dogs is dangerous work! While Smith hung to the rope made fast to the hind part of the sledge & Kook-Smit kept just ahead of the dogs whipping them back, I had hold of the fore part of the sledge to guide it & help keep it back. Notwithstanding all our precautions, occasionally, away the sledge bounded over snow drifts - down steep places & now & then plunging dogs & humanity into one general heap. Exciting rides we had, anon, coming down on the Rescue Bay side the dogs springing with all their might to keep ahead of flying Kummitie. Not soon will I forget the cries of Kook-Smit in my vernacular as when all was clear before, he let the dogs go at their wanted speed, the sledge flying & bounding over ice & banks of snow. 'Look-Out! [[underlined]] Look Out!!' [[/underlined]] rang among the echoing mountains of the "Pass" this night, if never before! At the "Half-Way-place" [[end page]] [[start page]] (15 1861 Dec 18 Wed where the weary, thirsty traveller always stops to rest & quench his parched tongue, we stopped. Kook-Smit took his Oo-nan & proceeded to open the ice-covering to the Spring. After long draughts, we returned to the sledge. On looking for my note Book, [[underlined]] It was gone! [[/underlined]] What a rush of disappointed feelings in my very soul! It was a Book invaluable to me. In it were memoranda made at the memorable place of my loved Country. [[underlined]] "Ashland", [[/underlined]] when that noble patriot Henry Clay's remains were carried from Cincinnati to Ashland & thence to their last resting place. With Smith I returned by the dim light of the moon the sledge tracks. After proceeding up the ravine, about 1/4 of a mile, I was joyous as my eye rested up a black speck ahead. I hastened on to it - snatched it up. Behold it was the sought! We quickly returned to the sledge & team I with bounding heart at my success in finding so valuable a keep-sake! From here we went with great speed to "Rescue Bay", arriving on the ice at VI-00 P.M. Now our course was direct for the ship which we reached at hVII-m20 P.M. Soon all hands forward were on deck to learn the arrival which the fighting dogs had announced. While I passed up took-too skins [[end page]] [[start page]] (16 1861 Dec 18 Wed one by one; Walrus sculls with Ivory, carpet sack, bag & Ni-noo-skin, throwing them up into the Gang-way, Capt. B. picked them up & passed them to Mate Rogers who transfered them below. After entering Main Cabin & making myself out of warm took-too, I was invited to the little pantry where I partook of Coffee, Sea-bread, Salt Junk & Salt Pork! Never did I eat a meal with better relish! - [[underlined]] I was hungry!! [[/underlined]] Here in tabular form I bring foward time of leaving Toong-wine - time of stopping on the way &c. &c. hV-m20 AM Started from Toong-wine VI-00 Stop oppo. 24th Enc. of Frobisher Bay trip VI-15 Start VII-30 Stop Que-zhine VIII-00 Start from " [[ditto for: Que-zhine]] IX-15 Oppo. & even Oo-mar-nung X-35 Even point Twer-pak-ju-a XI-00 Even middle [[underlined]] Ni-oun-te-lik [[/underlined]] & stop XI-20 Start XII-00 Arrive Kus-se-geer-ark-ju-a & stop. [[end page]] [[start page]] (17 1861 18 Wed. hXI-m45 P.M. Start from Kus-se-geer-ark-ju-a I-00 " [[ditto for: P.M.]] Opp. Kod-lu-narn I-20 " [[ditto for: P.M.]] Opp. where Masts were put in ship & stop I-40 " [[ditto for: P.M.]] Start 3-30 " [[ditto for: P.M.]] Arrive to "Land-pass" 4-30 " " [[dittos for: P.M. Arrive]] Ridge VI-00 " " [[dittos for: P.M. Arrive]] Rescue Bay VII-20 " " [[dittos for: P.M. Arrive]] Ship (17 Columns in this Days Record) To-night the Au-rora flashing in all its beauty & brilliancy. Its quiverings & shooting mass surpass my powers of description. (17 Columns in this D. Record)
