TYPICAL ESKIMO DOG

THE CRUSH NEAR CAPE UNION
Where the Roosevelt lost rudder, stern-post and part of propeller

The ice-foot now was a broad, deep lake; the floe-bergs, which lined the bank during the winter, were gone except one or two, and their places taken by others; at each ebb-tide there was a good bit of open water outside them, but beyond this the pack was apparently unbroken. The shore was not attractive, strewn as it was with empty cans and refuse.

Saturday morning I started with Sigloo for the Roosevelt, lying below Cape Union.

It was very foggy, and raining a little at the time, but Sigloo was positive he knew the trail.

At the end of eight hours he was completely tangled up; and as we were only about half-way to the ship, and I did not care to be tramping all night with my feet already severely bruised and pounded by the rocks, I took a direct course back to the tent, showing Sigloo the way to the ice-foot, which he would rather follow to the Roosevelt than go back. At midnight I was back to the tent with my feet almost useless. (Sigloo reached the Roosevelt at eight the next morning.) My men had come in with the sledge and things.

The rain and snow continued. About 8 A. M. Sunday Ooblooyah and Ahwegingwah started for the Roosevelt; between twelve and one, eight Eskimos came in, in response to my message by Sigloo to the Captain, and at 7 P. M. I started again, this time with Pewahto, an older man than Sigloo, leaving Marvin with the others to build a cairn, set up a cross which he had made from sledge runners, place a record, and then come on with what things were left.

I had given my feet complete rest since my return from the previous attempt, and had fixed my foot-gear in every way I could think of, including a pair of heavy tin inner soles, but my feet were still very tender, and I dreaded the tramp, and wished it over. At 7 P. M. I started, and anxious to have it over as soon as possible, set my teeth and struck a good pace. One thing was in my favour, it was clear now and I should have to do no unnecessary travelling. At 3 A. M. Monday, July 30th, I looked down on the Roosevelt from the bluffs, and at 3:30 I climbed over her side, a boat having brought me from the shore, thus ending my western trip of fifty-eight days. Between the 23d of February and the 30th of July, I had been on board ship eight days.

My kamiks were cut through, my tin soles broken in dozens of pieces, and my feet were hot, aching, and throbbing, till the pain reached to my knees.