LEAVING THE SHIP BEHIND. 591 



flag, as the end of our clay's journey. Upon the cut- 

 ter reaching the third flag Melville wanted to stop, 

 but Dunbar informed him there was a fourth flag, and 

 that that was the end of the first day's journey. Of 

 course I could not be everywhere in a road one and a 

 half miles long ; and Melville, in his uncertainty about 

 my wishes, had to be guided by Dunbar's idea, so that 

 the first cutter, instead of halting by our provisions, 

 was carried on beyond them, to my extreme annoyance 

 when I learned of it. 



Meanwhile the six men and myself went back to the 

 No. 1 sled, and by almost superhuman exertions got it 

 along a quarter of a mile, and then seeing Chipp and 

 the hospital sled hanging behind waiting for it, I sent 

 him ahead with the invalids to go after the first cutter. 

 The six men and myself then got the second cutter 

 and whaleboat along to where we had left No. 1 sled, 

 and while wondering what kept Melville and the men 

 away so long (they should have been back long since), 

 I saw that Chipp had come to a stand-still. Hastening 

 toward him I found that the ice had opened, and that 

 our remaining effects would have to be unloaded and 

 ferried over. 



Here was a nice fix. Sending back at once for the 

 light dingy, I got Chipp and the hospital sled over, and 

 sent him on to hurry the cutter party back. Time 

 was slipping away, and all that the six men and myself 

 could do, with the assistance of the dogs, was to get 

 the second cutter and whaleboat, with No. 1 and No. 2 

 sleds, as far along as the ferry. 



By ten p. m. the first cutter party returned, and we 

 at once launched the two remaining boats, hauled across 

 and got them upon the ice on the other side. To avoid 

 unloading the sleds, a road was sought and found higher 



