It rained continuously during the 2d, with fresh southwesterly breeze, making it not exactly impossible, but disagreeable for us to travel, and preventing the drying of the deerskins. As before, however, with a waterproof tent over us, and plenty of food for our dogs and ourselves, we were physically very comfortable, and slept much of the time, my two men almost literally all the time.
I knew, however, that every hour of the rain was making our return road more difficult, and as soon as the rain ceased (about midnight), we broke camp and started, getting away from the extremity of Twenty-mile Cape at 2 A. M. this morning. The entire bay which we crossed on the 1st, was now a continuous sheet of water.
The first two or three miles of the channel were very decent. After that, it was only by following the deep snow along the pressure ridge (a road impracticable without our snowshoes and broad-runner sledge) that we were able to advance. On each side were lakes of water, and deep morasses of slush.
When we took a step without snowshoes we would go in to mid-thigh or even hip.
Fortunately the dogs feel the effects of the rest and generous fare on Jesup Land, and we made practically the same time as in going over.
Of course our feet and legs were soaked in the ice-water from the very start, crossing the morasses from one piece of decent going to another.
At noon we reached the edge of the ice-foot on this side, and found it a broad river, which we had to ford to get to the site of our camp.
We have crossed without any time to spare. In one or two days at most, the channel will be impassable for two or three weeks (depending upon local conditions) until the snow has all melted and the water drained off.
On this side the change has been very pronounced since we left.
Where there was just enough bare gravel for us to set the tent a few days ago, are now acres of snow-free ground.