NORTH POLE OF THE WINDS 



is tenfold more serious in Greenland, and it was 

 certain to make difficult our transportation prob- 

 lems to the base in the hinterland. I had already 

 requested by radio a contract for the government 

 motor-schooner Walrus to take us with our supplies 

 and leave at the earliest moment for the Sondre 

 Stromfjord and our station at Mount Evans. I 

 knew that Carlson had been alone at the base ex- 

 cept for an Eskimo boy companion, and I greatly 

 feared that he was now out of provisions or at 

 least very low on them. The failure of our 

 Eskimo hunter Abraham to secure game during 

 the preceding season had made drains on our 

 winter supply beyond what had been expected. 

 On arrival at Holstensborg I found much dis- 

 traction over the condition of the Skinfaxe which 

 was lying at anchor in the harbor with her rudder- 

 post gone and a hole punched in her bottom which 

 was only temporarily patched up. The Lands- 

 vogel had come from Godthaab and everyone was 

 waiting to see what disposition would be made of 

 the cargo. An informal court of inquiry was being 

 held aboard the wreck and questions of salvage 

 and insurance were being discussed before the 

 cargo could be taken off. There was but small dis- 

 position to consider under these conditions the 

 University of Michigan's Greenland Expedition, 



210 



