320 THE CONCLUSION. 



my men, that T have been forced to the conclusion 

 that the attempt to cross the Sound with sledges has 

 resulted in failure ; and that my only hope to accom- 

 plish that object now rests in the schooner. Having 

 the whole of the season before me, I think that I can, 

 even without steam, get over to Cape Isabella, and 

 work thence up the west shore ; and, even should I not 

 be able to get as far up the Sound as I once hoped, 

 yet I can, no doubt, secure a harbor for next winter 

 in some eligible position. Coming to this conclusion, 

 I have determined to send back the men, and I have 

 given McCormick full directions what to do, in order 

 that the vessel may be prepared when the ice breaks 

 up and liberates her. He is to cradle the schooner in 

 the ice by digging around her sides ; repair the dam- 

 age done last autumn, and mend the broken spars, 

 and patch the sails. 



For myself, I stay to fight away at the battle as 

 best I can, with my dogs. 



The men have given me twenty-five days of good 

 service, and have aided me nearly half way across 

 the Sound with about eight hundred pounds of food ; 

 and this is all that they can do. Their work is 

 ended. 



Although the chance of getting through with the 

 dogs looks hopeless ; yet, hopeless though the pros- 

 pect, I feel that, wdien disembarrassed of the men, I 

 ought to make one further effort. I have picked my 

 companions, and have given them their orders. They 

 will be Knorr, Jensen, and sailor McDonald, — plucky 

 men all, if I mistake not, and eager for the journey. 

 There are others that are eager to go with me ; but, • 

 if they have courage and spirit, they have little j)hys- 

 ical strength -, and, besides, more than two persons to 



