صفحة 442 من 483

Warm tears filled my eyes, which I hastily wiped away, that they

might not intercept the view I had of the daemon; but still my

sight was dimmed by the burning drops, until, giving way to the

emotions that oppressed me, I wept aloud.

But this was not the time for delay; I disencumbered the dogs of

their dead companion, gave them a plentiful portion of food, and

after an hour's rest, which was absolutely necessary, and yet

which was bitterly irksome to me, I continued my route. The

sledge was still visible, nor did I again lose sight of it except

at the moments when for a short time some ice-rock concealed it

with its intervening crags. I indeed perceptibly gained on it,

and when, after nearly two days' journey, I beheld my enemy at no

more than a mile distant, my heart bounded within me.