SHERIDAN TO THE BIG LEAD 115 



undated said there was an igloo just ahead and a 

 lead beyond. The Captain's record of the 25th said 

 he was leaving about noon to join Henson. 



I had noticed in coming up to the igloos a dark 

 object on the northern edge of the floe, and now as- 

 sumed it to be an empty tin, or cast off clothing on 

 top of an igloo. 



When my men came up we fed the dogs, put our gear 

 inside, and began making tea, when Ahngmalokto said 

 he could hear dogs up ahead of us. I turned the tea 

 making over to him, and went out to investigate. 



I soon met the Captain coming out to me, and found 

 three parties banked up here, by a broad open lead 

 extending east and west across our course, farther 

 than we could see. I immediately started to investi- 

 gate the lead and from a pinnacle it looked as 

 if there might be a chance to cross during the night. 

 The northern ice was slowly moving west. 



I told Henson to have his men stand watch and 

 watch, and if the chance came to notify everyone so 

 that a quick crossing could be effected. I then went 

 back to my igloo. 



After my tea I sent a note to the Captain telling 

 him if there was a chance to cross, to travel with 

 Henson for two days and then return, and a note to 

 Henson to get across the lead at the first possible 

 moment and push on. 



Early in the morning of the 27th I went up to see 

 how things were going, and met the Captain coming 

 to report that Henson had started to try and get 

 across to the west, and he was about to follow. 



When he got away I climbed a pinnacle to reconnoitre 



