1915] TO UPERNAVIK AND BACK 131 



boots are very wet. If we can't dry them, frozen hands and feet 

 are the inevitable result. With no food, and no knowledge of where 

 we are, this could easily develop into a serious affair. 



January 11th, Monday. — Henrick and Peter were both sick during 

 the night, the former coughing and spitting and breathing with 

 difficulty, the latter bleeding at the nose. 



It cleared up a bit this morning, giving us a fair view of our sur- 

 roundings. We are in a deep bay filled with islands and inclosed by 

 high hills. 



Peter and Henrick try to encourage us by declaring that we are 

 on the back side of the cape. 



^ P.M. — Leaving our dugout this morning, we drove around the 

 cape and well up the south side, hoping to find the igloos. We can 

 see nothing; therefore have constructed another igloo. 



When coming in here at 5.30 p.m. we headed toward the constella- 

 tion Pleiades, which must be in the east at this time of day. 



Dogs are very hungry and are beginning to eat their traces. Every 

 night a few get loose and eat up everything and anything in sight. 



January 12th, Tuesday. — Much to our relief, the mist Hfted this 

 morning, giving us a good view to the south. The point of land in 

 the distance, perhaps twenty-five miles away, they all agree is our 

 will-o'-the-wisp. 



We started toward it at once, I leading the way on snow-shoes. 

 About noon the weather thickened again, leaving us nothing but a 

 few stars by which to direct our course. The Great Square of Pegasus 

 I knew to be in the south at four or five o'clock in the afternoon; 

 therefore directed our course to the left of that. 



We at last reached what we concluded in the darkness must be 

 the cape — a long, high ridge. Upon a close examination this proved 

 to be a huge iceberg with numerous pressure ridges. We were all 

 plainly disappointed, especially in view of the fact that there was 

 no snow for a snow house and a light, cold wind blowing. 



Getting into the ice for shelter, we made tea and ate our mouthful 

 of biscuit. 



To save our harnesses from destruction, we removed them from 

 the dogs and brought them into an inclosure of five sledges. In 

 constructing this, it looked for all the world as if we were preparing 

 for an encounter with Indians. 



No sooner had the boys got into their sleeping-bags and I under 

 a piece of musk-ox robe, when fifty dogs made a rush. 



"Dey are eating my head!" yelled Peter. 



"They are pulHng me off the sledge!" cried Henrick, in Eskimo. 



Seizing a whip, I drove the dogs to a distance and lay down again. 



