PEARY CROSSES GREENLAND 141 



troubles had come, four of the dogs having died of a disease to 

 which these animals were subject. Also the travelers had been 

 obliged to abandon four of the eight sledges with which they set 

 out, these having proved unserviceable. 



On the 2 ist of May, at a point on the edge of the great Hum- 

 boldt glacier, one hundred and thirty miles from Redcliff House, 

 the place of starting, a halt was made and the question of what was 

 still to come was considered. It was evident, as Peary said, that 

 they had before them no holiday jaunt. He had decided that he 

 could not safely take more than one companion, and as the others 

 had now gained a foretaste of what they would have to endure, he 

 called upon them to volunteer for this duty. Dr. Cook was the 

 first to respond, followed eagerly by Astrup and Gibson, each being 

 so anxious to proceed that Peary was obliged to choose between 

 them. He selected Astrup as the best fitted for the work, and kept 

 three of the sledges and thirteen of the dogs for his own use. Gib- 

 son and Cook were sent back with the remainder, the latter being^ 

 put in charge of the Redcliff House station until his chief should 

 return. 



The course now lay directly northeast, Peary striding forward 

 in advance, his attention being given closely to the work of keeping 

 the true direction, while Astrup followed in charge of the dogs and 

 sledges. This order of march was kept throughout the journey. 

 As the days went on, the dogs grew more manageable, buckling 

 down to their work with good will and following their leader obedi- 

 ently, Astrup encouraging and urging them occasionally with voice 

 and whip. Peary's task was the more arduous of the two. To 

 keep the right direction in that limitless white wilderness, without 

 landmark of any kind, as level and unbroken as the trackless ocean, 

 was no light labor, every faculty being kept on the strain to prevent 

 a loss of direction. Constant references to compass, charts and 

 other means of determining position were necessary and the strain 

 at times was very great. 



