178 NEAREST THE POLE 



Hecla, and those to take with me to supplement the 

 Point Moss cache, sending instructions to the Captain, 

 and invoicing and putting in order what was to remain 

 at Hecla, I got but an hour's sleep there. 



Marvin got away about 10:30 p.m., the two boys, 

 Koodlooktoo and Itookashoo, going with him to take 

 part of my loads out on to the level bay- ice west of 

 Hecla. 



When they returned I fitted them out with their 

 loads for the ship, moved everything from the ice- 

 foot well up the rock talus of the Cape, started them 

 off and then got away with my party about an hour 

 after midnight. Finest of weather all the time, clear and 

 calm. There is more snow now than in March. It is 

 firm enough to support the dogs, but the sledges 

 sink much of the time, and a man needs snow shoes 

 continually. 



Three months to a day since I left Hecla the last 

 time. It seems an age. Twenty years ago to-day I 

 crossed the Arctic Circle for the first time. 



We came on to Point Moss in five and one-half hours. 

 The entire depth of Clements Markham Inlet visible. 

 Distinctive names for the prominent mountains lying 

 east and west south of the Inlet, would be Streaked, 

 Camel, Saddle, Twin. 



Here at Point Moss I have had eight hours' good sleep, 

 and for the first time in a long time have leisure after 

 breakfast to let my breakfast settle a little before 

 hurrying off. With no vital necessity for hurry, and 

 with nothing to look out for but my own small party, 

 this is very agreeable. I shall finally arrange my 

 loads here, and when we make our next camp beyond 



