When the natives who had been sent out came back, they reported that to the east and the west the lead was wider than ever.
“Any smooth, floating ice?” asked Barwell Dawson.
Yes, some smooth ice had been seen, and the explorer went out the next day to investigate. As a result some large cakes were floated close to the temporary camp, and these were lashed together with walrus thongs.
“What do you intend to do with those?” questioned Professor Jeffer.
“I am going to try to get across to the other side,” answered Barwell Dawson. “We’ll use the flat ice for a ferry.”
“It’s a dangerous piece of business, sir.”
“I know it. But we must do something,” was the firm answer.
Two of the Esquimaux agreed to get on the floating cakes of ice, taking with them one of the teams and a sledge. It was no easy matter to induce the dogs to go aboard, as it might be called, and the natives were a good hour getting started. But once afloat, they crossed the lead without serious danger, and then began the task of getting the rest of the expedition over. This took all of that day, and also the next. On one of the trips an Esquimau went overboard, and Dr. Slade also took an icy bath, but both were quickly rescued, and bundled up in clothing that was dry and warm.
“There, I am glad we are over that lead!” exclaimed Barwell Dawson, when the last of the men and sledges had crossed. “I trust we don’t have any more of the sort to cross.”
“I am afraid we’ll have a great many,” answered Professor Jeffer. “Getting to the North Pole is going to be the hardest kind of a struggle.”