CHRISTMAS 191 



Their fears of the "big lead" took flight at the 

 prospect of what to them was untold riches; and when 

 it came to the point of making up my sledge parties, 

 only one Eskimo, Panikpah, would admit any fears. 

 They had seen me return so many times that they 

 were ready to take their chances with me this one 

 time more. 



Bartlett left the ship on Monday, February 15, with 

 instructions to go straight through to Cape Columbia, 

 then put in two or three days hunting for musk-oxen in 

 the neighborhood. The three divisions following Bart- 

 lett had instructions to go to Cape Columbia with their 

 loads; then return to Cape Colan, where there was a 

 cache, and take full loads from there to Cape Columbia. 

 Goodsell's division started on Tuesday, on Wednesday 

 it was stormy, and MacMillan and Henson got away 

 on Thursday. They were all to meet me at Cape 

 Columbia on the last day of February. 



Marvin and his party had come in from Cape 

 Bryant about six o'clock on Wednesday night. They 

 were all well. Borup's division left the ship on Friday, 

 Marvin's division got away on Sunday, the 21st, and I 

 was left alone on the ship for one day. 



That last day was one of perfect quiet and rest, 

 free from interruption. The morning I devoted to 

 going over carefully the details of the work already 

 done, to see that no slenderest necessary thread had 

 been overlooked, and to considering again, point by 

 point, the details of the coming journey. 



When I had satisfied myself (as I had not been able 

 to do during the bustle and constant interruptions of 

 the last two weeks) that everything was in its place and 



