APPENDIX II 367 



Then just as we were about to make camp, all tired 

 out, we struck smooth ice, new and thin and treacher- 

 ous, but a splendid thoroughfare. We took heart again 

 and decided to try for Cape Constitution. Except for 

 breaking through the young ice occasionally, and hav- 

 ing to go around a number of pools and to ferry over 

 a couple of leads, we made rattling good time. A great 

 lake of open water extended westward from the cape. 

 We went south of it. 



Esayoo, who led the way, skilfully selected the safest, 

 easiest route, and we were at the cape in two hours. 

 We stopped to look carefully for the flag that was to 

 mark the cache, but could see none. After searching all 

 about the cape, we finally concluded that Mac for some 

 reason had been unable to get the supplies to the cape. 



We started out again. We had not gone a hundred 

 yards when Esayoo called out, "Sledge tracks!" and 

 pointed to a little patch of snow on which both dog 

 tracks and the traces of sledge runners were clearly 

 distinguishable. We examined them and concluded that 

 they had been made that day. 



Great was our excitement, eager our anticipation. 

 Even our dogs felt it, and, sniflang at the tracks, were 

 wild to set out in pursuit. At Esayoo's suggestion that 

 we might catch up with them if we did not camp, we 

 started out again. Driving his dogs at their best speed, 

 E-took-a-shoo led, Esayoo and I following him close. 

 As we drove we scanned carefully the tracks we fol- 

 lowed, to find some clue as to whom the sledges belonged. 

 We felt sure that Oobloyah's was one of them, for we 

 could recognize the track of his sledge. Who the others 

 were we could only guess, but we knew that before long 

 we should see them. 



