CHAPTER XI 



CLOSE QUARTERS WITH THE ICE 



THAT no time should be lost on the upward 

 voyage, and also that my Eskimos might 

 not have too much leisure in which to con- 

 sider the dangers which constantly threatened their 

 floating home, I kept them all busy. The men were 

 put to work making sledges and dog-harness, so that 

 when we reached Cape Sheridan — if we reached it, — 

 we might be ready for the fall hunting. I had on 

 board the raw materials, and each Eskimo built a 

 sledge for himself, putting his best work into it. This 

 pride of the Eskimo in personal achievement has been 

 of great service to me, and has been encouraged by 

 special prizes and special praise. 



The Eskimo women were put to work on our win- 

 ter garments as soon as possible after leaving Etah, 

 so that, in the event of our losing the ship, every man 

 would have a comfortable outfit. In the North we 

 wear practically the same clothing as the Eskimos, 

 including the fur stockings with the fur on the inside. 

 Otherwise we should have frozen feet often instead 

 of only occasionally. A man who could not live 

 without silk stockings would not be likely to attempt 

 the North Pole. As we had altogether, including 

 the Eskimos, sixty -nine persons on board the ship — 

 men, women, and children — it will be seen that there 



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