FIRST OPEN WATER 227 



their igloos the captain took a sounding, and obtained 

 a depth of one hundred and ten fathoms. We were 

 now about forty -five miles north of Cape Columbia. 



The next day, March 5, was a fine, clear day, with a 

 light westerly breeze, and a temperature of 20° below 

 zero. For a little while about noon the sun lay, a 

 great yellow ball, along the southern horizon. Our 

 satisfaction at seeing it again was almost compensation 

 for our impatience at being delayed there — beside the 

 gradually widening lead. Had it not been cloudy on 

 the 4th, we should have seen the sun one day earlier. 



During the night the lead had narrowed somewhat, 

 raftering the young ice. Then, under the impulse of 

 the tidal wave, it had opened wider than ever, leaving, 

 in spite of the constantly forming ice, a broad band of 

 black water before us. I sent MacMillan back with 

 three dog teams and three Eskimos to bring up the load 

 which Kyutah had thrown off before he went back to 

 the land with Marvin, and also to bring up a portion 

 of Borup's cache which we had not been able to load 

 on our sledges. MacMillan also took a note to leave 

 at Kyutah's cache, telling Marvin where we were held 

 up, and urging him to hurry forward with all possible 

 speed. The remainder of the party occupied themselves 

 repairing damaged sledges and in drying their clothing 

 over the little oil hand lamps. 



All the next day we were still there beside the 

 lead. Another day, and we were still there. Three, four, 

 five days passed in intolerable inaction, and still the 

 broad line of black water spread before us. Those were 

 days of good traveling weather, with temperatures 

 ranging from minus 5° to minus 32°, a period of time 



