APPENDIX III 



ACROSS THE ICE-FIELDS OP MELVILLE BAY 

 W. ELMER EKBLAW 



The Danmark, the second ship sent to our relief, 

 lay frozen in the ice near North Star Bay during the 

 winter of 1916-17. She had reached the harbor after 

 mid-September, a month too late to insure a successful 

 escape from the ice-barred reaches of BaflSn Bay and 

 Smith Sound. She could not get out of the ice before 

 August the following year, and with a limited supply 

 of coal, she might have difficulty even then in forcing 

 her way through. 



Doctor Hunt and I had been aboard her from the 

 time of her arrival. Her officers made us welcome, 

 and as comfortable as limited quarters permitted. 

 They were kind, courteous, and hospitable. Most of 

 them could speak a little American, and knew enough 

 of American customs and characteristics to play a good 

 hand at friendly poker. Food was abundant, and the 

 cooking good. 



But we were eager to be back on home lands once 

 more, and with orders from Mac to proceed home by 

 sledge that winter, we were glad when Knud Rasmussen, 

 who had agreed to accompany us, sent us word very 



