SHERIDAN TO THE BIG LEAD 119 



April 2d. — Across the " Hudson River " at last, thank 

 God, after a loss of seven days of fine weather. 



Ryan came m about nine last evening with his 

 three men Ahngodoblaho, "Teddy" and Itukashoo. 



He brings a story of delay from open leads at the 

 igloos where the Doctor turned back; again this side 

 of cache number two, and in his last march here, which 

 makes my men's faces very long. The Captain was 

 also bothered by open water and was three days getting 

 to the cache. Ryan met him just this side. 



On the other hand he says from the "Dr.'s igloos" 

 in to the land the ice has not moved, and that there 

 was no wind in near the land on the 2 2d. 



He brought very light loads. But it all helps, and 

 Marvin and Clark must be close behind. 



My impatience about the lead would not let me sleep, 

 so at 2 A. M. I had tea ready and sent my two men 

 to reconnoitre. They were gone a long time, and I 

 made up m}^ mind they could find no crossing, when they 

 returned, and said they thought the ice would hold at a 

 place a little west of where we had been watching it. 



Turned everyone out, and sent all the sledges across 

 with light loads on each and, when they returned 

 hurried everything else on to them and went across 

 with everyone except Ryan and two of his men (I 

 took the other one with me), who started right back. 



While the men were scouting I had written notes of 

 instruction to Marvin, Clark, Captain, Doctor, and Ryan 

 himself, which the last-named took back with him. 



With everything over Henson packed his sledges 

 and got away at 8 a. m. My men built an igloo, 



