Henry and Biederbick left the next morning evidently well satisfied to forego the pleasures of this trip. Their departure rendered it necessary to reduce the load somewhat, which was done by leaving behind the snow-shoes and rubber spread, trusting to luck to find a bare spot for their sleeping-bag. After tramping through much wet snow alternating with mud and stones, and getting their feet soaking wet, they came to two deep gorges close together, each occupied by a considerable stream of water. They crossed these and ascended a dome beyond, three thousand feet high, and thence came to a still larger stream whose gorge was one thousand feet deep. Here they stopped for the night after a tramp of twelve miles. The next morning the sky was overcast, with barometric indications of a storm; but they continued their way with reduced loads, having only one day’s food left. Following the stream northwest a few miles, they crossed it and ascended a high elevation, from which the United States range could be very distinctly viewed, and then came to the conclusion that they had gone far enough.

With the telescope they could see distinctly, about twenty miles away, the walls of the great glacier, and its face ten miles wide. In fact, the whole range was full of glaciers. The country intervening between them and the glaciers seemed comparatively level. At noon they started back, and did not stop until the camping-place of the night before was reached. Thence, after a drink of tea and something to eat, abandoning their sleeping-bags, they made for their first camp, where had been left the rubber spread and one extra bag. The traveling was execrable, but they reached Fort Conger on the 14th, hungry, tired, and decidedly used up.

On the 24th, preparations began for the proposed boat-journey toward the south on which they would start when the ice would permit. Lockwood, in obedience to a general order, prepared to take no clothing except what he wore, and the few pounds of his baggage would consist of his journal and other papers. He felt depressed and low-spirited, and totally indifferent as to the risks they were to encounter.

The straits were reported clear of ice below Cape Lieber on the 26th, but the bay near by was still full, though with many leads. Every preparation was made to leave on the 1st of August, if possible, or as soon after as the ice would allow. The men fiddled and sang, and seemed in joyous spirits; and the hilarity was kept up by the dogs Ritenbank and Ask-him having a terrible fight, resulting in victory to the latter. The probable consequence was that Ask-him would now be king. Ritenbank went about with his head down and tail between his legs, a dethroned and friendless monarch. The usurper’s reign, however, was likely to be a short one, as, on the party’s leaving, the dogs would either be shot or left to starve to death.

The 5th of August arrived, and the ship was the only thing talked about. Some of the men reported smoke down the straits, but it was soon found to be only water-clouds or fog. In the midst of these excitements, Lockwood gave expression to the following feelings: “As the time for moving approaches, I feel a singular apathy. If we had plenty of fresh meat and more good books, I could stand another winter here.”

Soon after, heavy winds from the south making great changes in the condition of the ice, active preparations were made for leaving.

Lockwood writes: “I don’t feel as though I was going away, much less toward the south. Have felt more stirred up on beginning a sledge-journey.”

TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE DISTANCE TRAVELED TO LOCKWOOD ISLAND.

Distance traveled. Time.
Adv Tr Add Tot Adv Tr MPH
Miles—Geographical. Hours. Geo. M.
OUT.
Fort Conger to Boat Camp 48 67 157 224 21½ 28¼ 2·23
Boat Camp to sea-coast 36 86 25 111 18¾ 44⅓ 1·92
Sea-coast to Cape Bryant 37½ 103½ 12 113 21½ 47¹/₁₂ 1·74
Cape Bryant to Cape Britannia 60 118 .. 118 32 55⁵/₁₂ 1·87
Cape Britannia to farthest 95 95 .. 95 39⅔ 48⅙ 2·39
Total (out) 267½ 469½ 194 701 133½ 223¾ 2·07
BACK.
Farthest to Cape Britannia 95 95 .. 95 37⅓ 41¾ 2·52
Cape Britannia to Cape Bryant 60 60 .. 60 25¾ 28 2·33
Cape Bryant to Boat Camp 61½ 61½ .. 61½ 27¼ 36½ 2·25
Boat Camp to Fort Conger 48 48 .. 48 22½ 28⅓ 2·13
Total (back) 264½ 264½ .. 264½ 112⅚ 134²/₁₂ 2·34
Aggregate (out and back) 541 734 194 965½ 245¹¹/₁₂ 357⅚ 2·20
Aggregate (out and back) in statute miles 623 .. .. 1069

Key to Headings: Adv: Advanced. Add: Additional miles traveled. Tr: Traveled. Tot: Total. MPH: Number of miles per hour.