These officers had to consider what men and animals were to be included in the land expeditionary force. Oh, it wasn’t to be all fun, I do assure you.
There was an excellent landing here, for they had found a fiord, a deep arm of the sea, that the scientists believed would be more open as summer advanced, and form an excellent harbour where the Walrus could lie in open water as the base of the undertaking, and if ice-bound in autumn, it would be but pancake—so they thought—through which they could saw their way to clear water.
As for the Sea Elephant, she would remain at sea and continue to explore.
Ingomar was not certain in his own mind whether he had not been guilty of an act of cruelty in bringing the Shetland ponies into Polar waters. They had been on shore many times, it is true, and had never been a day ailing; but, on the whole, they had not had very much exercise.
Well, the camp here was commenced. It was to be only a trial one, for those whom Ingomar and his brave companions should leave behind there when they made their dash, would live on board ship.
Everything to be taken into the interior was to be light, but strong; and during their many months of camping out here, they would doubtless gain experience of what would be wanted.
There were sledges of “burden and baggage,” that were to be drawn by the bears, under the care of Slap-dash; the Shetland ponies, with a good man, would greatly assist the heavy work. The dog-sledges would be driven by some of Slap-dash’s men. These sleighs would carry light baggage and camp-gear. They were called the “dash-aways.”
The whole was put under the charge of Dr. Wright. He was a hardy, bold fellow, and determined to make all the rest like him.
“I’ll make you all athletes before you start,” he said; “every man Jack of you. And you won’t need any dumb-bells or chest-developers either.”
“They shall all do as you tell them,” said Lieutenant Curtis. “They shall, indeed, doctor.”