ETAH TO CAPE SHERIDAN 49 



south protected us from the attacks of the heavy 

 floes passing rapidly a few yards outside of us. 



Eskimos sent out for hare here obtained thirty-six. 

 We were now only some fifteen miles from the Alerfs 

 winter quarters, and a clear run of two or three hours 

 would enable us to beat the record for ships in this 

 region, and save the game for us. 



The 5 th of September was a memorable day, one 

 that practically ended my fears and anxieties. At 

 3:30 A. M. we got under way after about an hour's 

 backing and butting to get out of our niche. A 

 narrow strip of water close inshore showed as far 

 as Cape Union where [a narrow but apparently 

 dense barrier pressed against the Cape. Would it 

 let us through? As we neared the barrier it was 

 evidently only about a mile wide, with water be- 

 yond it extending to Cape Rawson. I kept both 

 watches of firemen on, and routed out the chief en- 

 gineer ahead of his watch, because it was evident that 

 we must get through now. In a few minutes the 

 Roosevelt was in the thick of it, throbbing like a motor, 

 the black smoke pouring from her stack, and success- 

 fully forced her way through. Cape Union was passed 

 at 4:30 A. M. South of Rawson the ice ran close in 

 against the shore but was looser outside, and we made 

 a wide detour to the northeast, the captain, the mate, 

 and myself in the rigging. The ice was in large, 

 heavy floes and in rapid motion swinging into the 

 mouth of the channel on the flood tide. The anxious 

 moments were numerous both as to whether we should 

 get through, and also as to whether we should escape 

 a serious nip. 



