THE FRIENDLY ARCTIC 265 



had not already done so, the idea that ships and supplies are needed 

 to pass an arctic winter safely and comfortably. There would soon 

 be on the ground plenty of snow for the building of clean and 

 cozy houses, and we still had over 200 cartridges, which meant 

 20,000 pounds of fat for fuel and meat for food. 



But Storkerson had a family on the mainland, and Ole had plans 

 for a trading expedition involving the purchase of a ship and the 

 acquiring of wealth on the coast of Siberia. While they agreed 

 with me that we could pass the winter and continue the work in the 

 spring, they did not agree with me that the game was worth the 

 candle, and reminded me that I had promised them when we were 

 out on the ice that if no ship came to Banks Island we would make 

 our way to the mainland as soon as the winter frosts should bridge 

 over the arms of the sea we had to cross, and as soon as the increas- 

 ing daylight of spring allowed safe travel. 



