Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-08-06
CHAPTER XII.

Next day at early dawn, Hatteras
gave the signal for departure. The
well-fed and well-rested dogs were
harnessed to the sledge. They had
been having good time of It all the
winter, and might be expected to do
good service during the summer.
1t was at in the morning when the
expedition started After following the
windings of the bay and going past
Cape Washington, they struck into the
direct route for the north. and by
o'clock had lost sight of the lighthouse
and Fort Providence.
During the first two days they made
twenty miles in twelve hours, devoting
the remainder of the time to rest and
meals. The tent was quite sufficient
protection during sleep.
The temperature began to rise. In
many places the snow melted entirely
away, and great patches OF water ap-
peared.
Hunting was not forgotten during
tho march, for fresh meat was a ne
cessity. Altamont and Bell kept their
guns loaded, and shot ptarmigans.
guillemots. geese. and a few young
hares.
Hatteras advised them not to go
more than a mile away. as there was
not day, nor even an hour to lose.
for three months of fine weather was
the utmost they could count upon. Be
sides. the sledge was often coming to
difficult places, when each man was
needed to lend a helping hand.
For several days the expedition had
been attended with no fatigue. The
travellers had only suffered from the
intense glare OF the sun on the snow.
which threatened them with snow
blindness.
At another time of the year they
might have avoided this by walking
during the night. but at present there
was no night at all. Happily the snow
was beginning TO melt, and the bril-
liancy would diminish as the process
OF dissolution advanced.
On the Sth of June the thermometer
rose to as degrees. and the rain fell in
torrents. Hatteras and his compan-
ions. however. marched stoically on,
and even hailed the downpour with
delight, knowing that it would hasten
| the disappearance OF the snow.
AS they went along, the doctor often
picked up stones, both round ones and
fat pebbles. as II worn away by the
tide. He thought from this they must
be near the Polar basin. and yet far as
the eye could reach was one intermin-
able plain.
There was not a trace OF HOUSES. OF
huts. OF cairns visible. 1t was evident
that the Greenlanders had not prshed
their way so far north. and yet the
famished tribes would have found their
reward in coming, for the country
abounded In game. Bears were ire
quently seen. and numerous herds OF
musk-oxen and deer.
On the goth Bell killed fox and Al
lamont a musk-ox. These supplies OF
fresh food were very acceptable. s.nd
even the doctor surveyed, with consid-
cradle satisfaction, the launches Of
meat they managed to procure from
time to time.
Don't let us stint ourselves" hs
used to say on these occasions; "fooc
is no unimportant matter in expeai-
tons like ours"
Especially" said johnson, "wher 9
meal depends on lucky shot"
You're right, Johnson; man doe.
not think so much about dinner whcr
he knows the soup-pot is simmerips
by the kitchen fire.
On the 30th they came to a district
which seemed to have Keen upturnec
by some volcanic cow -fsion. 20 GOV