Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09
CHAPTER. VI.

Koolootingwah and InugitO had been
our bedfellows for the entire northward
run. and they had gone through many
dangerous and hard experiences together.
We. therefore, felt more keenly their de-
parture than the going of the first six.
We were at first lonely, but the exigencies
of our problem were soon sufficiently en-
gaging to occupy every call and strain
every fiber.
Now our party was reduced to three.
and, though the isolation was more op-
preSsive, there were the usual advantages
for greater comfort and progress of a
small family of workers. The increased
number of a big expedition always en-
larges the responsibility and difficulties.
In the early part of polar venture this
disadvantage is eliminated by the survi-
val of the fittest, but after the last sup
porting sleds return the men are married
to each other and can no longer separate.
A disabled or unified dog can be fed to
his companions, but an injured or weak
man cannot be put aside. An exploring
venture is only as strong as its weakest
member, and increased members. like in
creased links In a chain, reduce efficiency.
The personal idiosyncrasies and incOn-
veniences always shorten the days march,
but. above all, a numerous party quickly
divides into cliques, which are always op-
posed to each other, to the leader and to
the best interests of the problem in hand
With but two savage companions, to
whom this arduous task was but part
of an accustomed life of frost, I hoped
to overcome many of the natural personal
barriers to the success of arctic expedt-
tons.
One Degree in Three Days.
By dead reckoning our position was
latitude So degrees o minutes. longitude
95 degrees IA minutes. A study OF the
ice seemed to indicate that We had passed
beyond the zone of ice crushed by the
influence of land pressure. Behind were
great hummocks and small Ice, ahead
was cheerful expanse OF larger noes.
Using the accumulated vigor of man and
beast We had advanced a degree of lati-
tude in three days. Our destination was
about four hundred and sixty miles be-
yond.
But our life had assumed quite another
aspect. Previously we permitted our
selves some luxuries. A pound of coal
oil and a good deal of musk OK tallow
were burned each day to heat the igloo
and to cook abundant food. Extra meals
it and each man ate and drank all he
desired. If the stockings or the mittens
were wet there was fire enough to dry
them out, but all of this must now be
changed.
There was a short daily allowance of
food and fuel-one pound of pemmdcan
per day for the dogs, about the same for
men. with just taste of other things.
race with fresh meat in the lucky run
through game lands.
At first no great hardship followed the
changed routine. We filled up sufficiently
bodily tissue. It was no longer possible
to Jump on the sled for an occasional
breathing spell, as we had done along the
land. With overloaded sleds the drivers
must push and pull at the sleds to aid the
dogs. and I searched the troubled ice for
an easy route. cutting here and there
with the ice AK to permit the passing of
the sleds.
Stripped for the Race.
We were finally stripped for the race:
man and dog must walk along together
through storms and frost for that elusive
pivot Success or failure depended most
ly upon our ability to transport nourish-
ment and to keep UP the muscular
strength for a prolonged period.
AS We awoke OH the following morning
and peeped out of the eye port the sun
was edging along the northeast, throwing
warm orange glow on us that glad
63 degrees below zero Fahrenheit; the
barometer was steady and high. There
was almost no wind and not a cloud
lined the dome of pale purple blue.
After two cups of tea. a watch-sized
biscuit, a chip of frozen meat and a
bowlder of pemmican We crept out Of the
bags. The shivering legs were pushed
through bearskin cylinders, which served
ais trousers; the feet were worked into
frozen boots. and then We climbed into
fur coats. kicked the front out of the
snowhouse and danced about to start the
fires of the heart.
Quickly the camp furnishings were toss
ed on the sleds and securely dashed down
The dog traces were gathered into the
drag lines, and with vigorous snap of
the long whip the willing creatures bent
to the shoulder straps The sleds sroaned
and the unyielding SHOWS gave metallic
ring, but the train moved with cheerful
pace.
"Unne noona terronga doSangwah
good land out of sight today We said to
one another, but the words did not come
with serious intent. In truth, each in
his own way felt keenly that we were
leaving a world of ..fe and possible com.
fort for one of torment and suffering
Heiberg Island was already only a du!
blue haze, while Grant Land was making
fantastic figures of its peaks and ice
walls.
Wave Of Mirages.
The stamp of reality had given place
to a wave of curious mirages. Some
peaks seemed like active volcanoes 9th.
ars rose to exaggerated heights and
pierced the changing skies with multiple
0niSes LIKE church steeples. Altogether