266 THE NORTH POLE 



from here in command of the fourth supporting party, 

 and we did not have supplies enough for an increase 

 in the main party. The food which he and his two 

 Eskimos and dog teams would have consumed between 

 this point and the Pole, on the upward and return 

 journeys, might mean that we would all starve before 

 we could reach the land again. 



Had it been clear we should undoubtedly have cov- 

 ered twenty -five miles in this march; but it is difficult 

 to break a trail in thick weather as rapidly as in clear, 

 and this day netted us only twenty miles. We knew 

 that if we were not on or close to the 88th parallel 

 at the end of this march, it would be because the north- 

 ern winds of the past two days had set the ice south, 

 crushing up the young ice in the leads between us and 

 the land. 



The sun came out just as we were preparing to 

 camp, and it looked as if we should have clear weather 

 the next day for Bartlett's meridian observations at 

 his "farthest north." 



When our igloos were built, I told the two Eskimos, 

 Keshingwah and Karko, that they were to go back 

 with the captain the next day; so they could get their 

 clothes as dry as possible, as they probably would not 

 have time to dry them on the forced march home. 

 Bartlett was to return with these two Eskimos, one 

 sledge, and eighteen dogs. 



After about four hours' sleep, I turned everyone 

 out at five o'clock in the morning. The wind had 

 blown violently from the north all night, and still 

 continued. 



After breakfast Bartlett started to walk five or 



