NORTH POLE OF THE WINDS 



from the plateau nearly five thousand feet high, 

 and these vast proportions so overpower the lower 

 and nearer objects that it is hard for us to believe 

 that the further shore is nearly two miles away. 



Potter returns in the late afternoon having 

 reached the summit of a peak 3200 feet high as 

 measured by his aneroid. From this peak he could 

 with a glass make out the Eskimo camp not far 

 above us on the shore but extremely difficult for 

 us to reach because of the steep cliff and the rock 

 slides between. As he made his report it was al- 

 ready getting dark and we could not attempt to 

 reach the Eskimo camp that day. Lest, however, 

 they should make use of the ebb tide and get past 

 us during the night Peter was commissioned to sit 

 up and watch. The next morning Potter accom- 

 plished the difficult and dangerous feat of making 

 his way over the cliff and slides to the Eskimo 

 camp, but alas, only to find it deserted. The Es- 

 kimos had evidently slipped away in the night 

 with the outgoing tide which came at the darkest 

 hour. Peter had not seen them. I now blamed 

 myself that I had not taken greater precaution, 

 but I had had great faith in Peter's capacity. 



With this chance of getting away removed and 

 with nothing yet heard from Kangamiut, we begin 

 now to fear that we may be marooned on this cliff 



294 



