132 NEAREST THE POLE 



When we started on the next march, it was clear 

 and bright with light wind and drift, but at noon a 

 dark bank swept over from the west and the wind 

 increased. At the end of the march we camped 

 beside an open lead some fifty feet wide, trending 

 apparently northeast and southwest, but it was now 

 so thick with the driving snow that it was not possible 

 to determine this with certainty. Building our igloos 

 at this camp was a disagreeable job in the violent 

 wind and driving snow. Our pace during this march 

 was not less than two and one-half miles per hour. 

 Several narrow leads were crossed and after noon we 

 travelled upon almost continuous one season ice. 



At this camp our stay in camp was longer than 

 usual owing to the continuance of the wind and snow. 

 While here, six worn-out dogs were killed and fed 

 to the others to save our small store of pemmican, 

 and the skeleton condition of these dogs as shown 

 when they were skinned, threw my men into a tem- 

 porary panic, as they said that the entire pack might 

 give out at any time and they wanted to turn back 

 from here, but I told them I was not ready to turn 

 back yet, and should not be until we had made at 

 least five more marches to the north. 



I quote from my Journal: 



April iSth. — What contrasts this country affords. 

 Yesterday hell, to-day comparative heaven, yet not such 

 heaven as most would voluntarily choose. The wind 

 died down during the night ; this morning the position 

 of the sun was fairly discernible. Started early and 

 no serious trouble was experienced in crossing the lead 



