We started west again and came on to Cape Nares where we camped on a patch of bare gravel near two conical mounds (similar to those on the ice-cap of Greenland) a few hundred yards out from the base of the cliffs. We found abundant water close by. The wind was now increasing, the sky entirely overcast and there was every indication of a storm.
Before midnight the wind was blowing, the snow driving in horizontal lines against the tent, which was flapping and complaining loudly.
This has continued ever since but appears to be moderating now.
About 3 A. M. of the 9th the weather moderated, but I did not care to start then and get into day-travelling again, so I sent Ooblooyah and Egingwah back to Cape Columbia to feed the dogs and bring the rest of the bull musk-ox meat up.
We slept almost continually while here and so made up for lost time. To me it was particularly acceptable. Since my return to the ship, I slept very irregularly and not a great deal, owing to the change from snowhouse and tent, to the ship; and since starting on this trip, what with getting things arranged at Cape Hecla and Point Moss, and then killing the musk-oxen, and the Eskimos running in and out all the time, eating, and drying their clothing, I had slept very little.
Here with their stomachs full, and no chance to putter with their clothes, they have stayed in the tent and slept. The wind and snow have also made the temperature of the tent low enough for comfortable sleeping.
My two men came back from Columbia at noon, the dogs were fed all they could eat, we ourselves had a generous feed of musk-ox and tea, then turned in, the indications being that the dirty weather was nearly at an end, and that by night we should have it fine again.
At 7 P. M. I woke to find it snowing and blowing again.
I made coffee and we hitched up and came on to Ward Hunt Island in a driving northerly snowstorm, through some six inches of soft snow on top of the old snow and constantly increasing in depth.
Owing to my disinclination to exert myself in going ahead on snowshoes to set the course, it was impossible to drive the dogs straight, and we came outside the island instead of inside.