i66 PEARY'S FARTHEST NORTH OF 1905-6 



"During the remainder of this march and the next week we cut 

 our way slowly through such a hell of shattered ice as I hope never 

 to see again, a conglomeration of fragments in size from a paving- 

 stone to the dome of the Capitol, rounded by the terrific grinding 

 they had received between the jams of the big lead/' 



During these five days of dismal waiting beside the waters of 

 their Styx, as Peary christened this sullen river in the ice, they had 

 to kill the few dogs that remained for food and break up their 

 sledges for fuel to cook them with. It was as well, for they could 

 not have taken them across that frail bridge of ice. 



On they went, as fast as their feet could carry them. Finally 

 the white peaks of Greenland became faintly visible in the distance 

 and their hearts leaped with hope. On the I2th of May they 

 dragged themselves ashore at Cape Neumeyer. They were not far 

 from starvation, but knew from old experience that there was hope 

 of food at this point. In an hour they had found and killed four 

 hares. "And how delicious they were!" Peary exclaims. 



Just before reaching land they had passed sledge tracks leading 

 eastward, followed by the stumbling footsteps of four men. Two 

 Eskimos were sent on the trail, and returned with Clark and two 

 Eskimos, feeble and on the point of starvation. They had been 

 rescued just in time. 



There is little more to tell. The hares they continued to find 

 served them as food, and soon they reached Robeson Channel, the 

 crossing of which brought them in a short time back to the "Roose- 

 velt." Sending scouts to call in the parties still out, preparations 

 were made to break out for the voyage south as soon as possible. 

 Meanwhile a journey was made to the western shores of Grant 

 Land and here another discovery was made, that of snow-clad sum- 

 mits in the far northwest, indicating land in that direction. A 

 hitherto unknown island apparently lay there, marked on recent 

 maps as Crocker Land. 



With all their efforts, it was near the end of August before the 



