78 NEAREST THE POLE 



Eskimo women in all work demanding sewing proving 

 themselves invaluable. Pemmican was taken from 

 the cases, canvassed in packages convenient for hand- 

 ling and stowing upon the sledges, and numbered, 

 under the supervision of Mr. Bartlett, the mate. 

 My own time was fully occupied in planning and 

 supervision and in devising some new methods and 

 items of equipment. 



Personally I have never spent a winter in the Arctic 

 regions so free from petty annoyances and discomforts, 

 both physical and mental. The members of the party 

 were congenial, cheerful, energetic, and interested in 

 the work. The ship's people were interested and 

 willing, and the atmosphere of the ship lacked entirely 

 the element of friction which is so often an extremely 

 disagreeable feature of Arctic winter life. 



Captain Bartlett relieved me of all detailed care of 

 the ship, receiving and carrying out my general sug- 

 gestions with great energy and intelligence. I felt 

 that the physical well-being of the party was safe in 

 the hands of Dr. Wolf, and Marvin relieved me of the 

 routine drudgery of observations in addition to assist- 

 ing in other ways. Added to this, Percy the steward 

 was unremitting in looking out for my physical comfort. 



There are, however, so many trump cards which can 

 be played against him who attempts to do serious 

 work in the highest latitudes, that there is always 

 some vital point which in spite of every care and pro- 

 vision and forethought threatens to go wrong. 



The present occasion was no exception to the rule. 

 Besides my anxiety in regard to the Roosevelt, 

 which in comparison was of minor importance, I was 



