44 NEAREST THE POLE 



northern part of the channel was packed solid. Cap- 

 tain Bartlett and Marvin made several trips to the 

 top of Cape Siimner to reconnoitre the channel but 

 without satisfactory results. 



The turn of the tide the morning of the 28th set us 

 out again, and, impatient of the delay, and encouraged 

 by the behaviour of the Roosevelt in crossing the 

 channel at Cape Calhoun, fires were cleaned, machinery 

 thoroughly inspected, and at 4:30 a. m. the Roosevelt 

 was driven out for another contest with the channel 

 pack in which at the time no pool or lane of water was 

 visible. 



Just off the point of Sumner a brief nip between 

 two big blue floes which the swift current was swinging 

 past the Cape, set the Roosevelt vibrating like a violin 

 string for a minute or so before she rose to the 

 pressure. 



From this we pushed out and began the attempt 

 to cross to the west side, through ice almost continu- 

 ously up to our plank sheer and frequently of such 

 height that the boats swinging from the deck " house 

 davits had to be swung inboard to clear the pinnacles. 

 The delay and inaction of the past five days had 

 become unendurable. 



The Roosevelt fought like a gladiator, turning, twisting, 

 straining with all her force, smashing her full weight 

 against the heavy floes whenever we could get room 

 for a rush, and rearing upon them like a steeple- 

 chaser taking a fence. Ah, the thrill and tension of 

 it, the lust of battle, which crowded days of ordinary 

 life into one. 



The forward rush, the gathering speed and momentum, 



