594 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



that our difficulties have been increased. The necessi- 

 ties of the case have led to overloading the sleds, and 

 though they would have gone well enough on smooth 

 ice, the snow M r ould stop these or any other sleds — 

 twenty-eight men and twenty-three dogs laying back 

 with all their strength could only start our sixteen 

 hundred pound sled a few feet each time ; and when 

 sliding down a hill it would plunge into a snow-bank, 

 it was terrible work getting it out. Though the tem- 

 perature was between 20° and 25° we were in our shirt- 

 sleeves, and perspiring as on a hot summer day. I see 

 very clearly that we must run with lighter loads, and 

 go over the same ground oftener. I hoped to be able 

 to advance our boats and provisions in three separate 

 hauls, but I must be satisfied if we now do it in six. 



By midnight we had got up all our sled loads left 

 at the ferry, and sat down to our dinner. 



June 19th, Sunday. — At one a. m. turned the hands 

 to and resumed work on the sleds. I started back the 

 St. Michael's sleds and dogs, with Starr in charge, to 

 our old camp to bring forward the remainder of our 

 provisions. 



Loaded up Melville's sled with his pemmican and al- 

 cohol only : 720 lbs. pemmican, 320 lbs. alcohol, — 

 1,040 lbs. instead of 1,342 lbs., as before. 



Finding that the second cutter's sled was beginning 

 to spread, dismounted the boat and set to work tight- 

 ening the lashings. After having tightened the lash- 

 ings of No. 1 sled, packed upon it seventeen cans pem- 

 mican, 765 lbs. ; eight cans alcohol, 320 lbs. ; one bag 

 tea, one bag coffee, one bag sugar, one half bag sugar, 

 one half bag tea, thirty-six lbs. Liebig. And upon the 

 doctor's No. 5 sled, all the bread except one large bag. 

 Upon Danenhower's and Chipp's sled packed only their 



