CHAPTER XXIV. 



STARTING ON MY FIRST JOURNEY. —OBJECT OF THE JOURNEY. — A MISHAP.— 

 A FRESH START. — THE FIRST CAMP.— HARTSTENES CAIRN. — EXPLORING 

 A TRACK. — A NEW STYLE OF SNOW-HUT. — AN UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT.— 

 LOW TEMPERATURE. — EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE SNOW. — AMONG 

 THE HUMMOCKS. — SIGHTING HUMBOLDT GLACIER. — THE TRACK IMPRAC- 

 TICABLE TO THE MAIN PARTY. — VAN RENSSELAER HARBOR. — FATE OP 

 THE ADVANCE. — A DRIVE IN A GALE. 



On the 16th of March I found myself able for the 

 first time to get around Sunrise Point. Except dur- 

 ing a brief interval, the temperature had now fallen 

 lower than at any previous period of the winter ; and, 

 the air having been quite calm for two days, the ice 

 had formed over the outer bay. This long desired 

 event was hailed with satisfaction, and I determined 

 to start north at once. 



My preparations occupied but a few hours, as every 

 thing had been ready for weeks past. The charge of 

 one of the sledges was given to Jensen, the other to 

 Kalutunah, the former having nine and the latter six 

 dogs. One of the dogs had died and another had 

 been crippled in a fight, thus leaving me only fifteen 

 for service. 



My object in this preliminary journey was chiefly 

 to explore the track, and determine whether it were 

 best to adhere to the Greenland coast, following up 

 the route of Dr. Kane, or to strike directly across the 

 Sound from above Cape Hatherton, in the endeavor 

 to reach, on Grinnell Land, the point of departure 



