NORTH POLE OF THE WINDS 



been decorated by the King of Denmark. Later 

 we were to have many occasions to thank this 

 efficient manager for valuable help, though we 

 communicated with him by a combination of pan- 

 tomime with the few words which we had acquired 

 of each other's languages. 



As we set sail from Sarfanguak I scanned with 

 even greater care, but with as little success as be- 

 fore, the shores of the Ikertokfjord for possible 

 camping sites. At last we turned sharply to port 

 to enter the trident-like head of the great fjord, 

 and as we did so our Eskimo-pilot reported that 

 we could go no further in the ship since the water 

 was now rapidly shallowing. Hard by the western 

 shore we drop anchor in seven fathoms, the motor- 

 sailer of the Morrissey is lowered overside, and 

 with Peary as our engineer, Gould, Church, 

 Streeter and I set out to examine the head of the 

 fjord. Before we have advanced a mile there 

 opens out on the east side a deep amphitheater 

 which is recognized as a true glacial cirque that 

 has been in part submerged through sinking of the 

 shore, and here many of the conditions for a suit- 

 able camp site are realized. The depth of water is 

 sufficient for landing, the floor of the amphitheatre 

 is sufficiently flat for tents, and, best of all, a 

 source of fresh water is apparent in a cascade which 



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