SHERIDAN TO ETAH 253 



and it was necessary to keep the pumps going continu- 

 ally. In this new position we remained motionless until 

 the 24th. During this time the hunting parties to the 

 shore were continued, obtaining more hare, two addi- 

 tional square flipper seals, one common seal, and nine 

 musk-oxen. Eight families of the Eskimos also, who 

 believed that the Roosevelt would not get south this 

 season, went ashore with all their belongings in order to 

 begin hunting for their winter food supply as soon 

 as possible. I was not at all sorry to have them go 

 and fitted them out with guns and ammunition, for if 

 we did get away they and their families would be so 

 many less to look out for during the southern voyage, 

 and if we did not, their work ashore would count 

 toward the winter supplies of the entire party. 



I confess that, though not admitting it, I was myself 

 doubtful as to our escape as the days wore along. 

 The Alert and Discovery got away from Discovery 

 Harbour August 20th, and the Proteus on the 26th 

 and they were much nearer to possible avenues of 

 escape than we, located as we were in the depths of the 

 bay. The weather and our surroundings also reminded 

 me altogether too strongly of our experience at Cape 

 D'Urville in 1898. 



The outlook for our escape became so doubtful 

 that I made plans for another year's enforced delay, 

 the programme contemplating the scouting of the 

 entire region from Cape Desfosse to Lincoln Bay, and 

 west through the drainage basin of Lake Hazen, by 

 several hunting parties working simultaneously; and 

 the establishment of colonies at Conger, Lake Hazen, 

 and the head of Archer Fiord. 



