392 THE FRIENDLY ARCTIC 



the vessels to be sent to Banks Island was one of rescue. The 

 underlying assumption seemed to be that which was justified by the 

 "facts" as they were known at Ottawa — our foray into the ice might 

 have been brave but it could not have been successful. The word- 

 ing showed a concern about our possibly having survived an inevi- 

 tably fruitless journey. But here we were safe, and successful to the 

 extent of having proved that we could live by hunting where death 

 from starvation had been looked upon as the inevitable sequel to the 

 running out of stores brought along. Moreover, we had found land 

 of extent as yet unknown. I felt sure that if I could have telegraphed 

 these facts to Ottawa I should have received orders to proceed with 

 our explorations. I decided to proceed and this decision was ap- 

 proved at Ottawa when the reasons for it were presented in my 

 reports. 



One of my reasons for chartering the Polar Bear had been that 

 we might have to tow the Alaska to Bernard Harbor, I found now 

 from Captain Sweeney that while the engine was in almost as poor 

 a condition as reported, he was not so oadly off for an engineer, 

 for some months preceding his death Engineer Blue had had for 

 an assistant a Siberian native called Mike, who was now equal to 

 the job so long as nothing went wrong. We feared, however, that 

 if something were to break, which seemed not unlikely, his skill 

 would be inadequate. Accordingly, I arranged with Captain Cottle 

 for the release of one of his engineers, J. E, Hoff, who had signified 

 his willingness to work for us if he could get his freedom from the 

 Ruby. 



While we were still waiting on the unloading of the Ruby there 

 arrived from the west the motor schooner El Sueno, commanded 

 by her owner. Captain Alexander Allan, bound east along the coast 

 beyond Cape Parry with no definitely selected wintering place. 

 Trapping was the Captain's main object and he was carrying only 

 half a cargo. This seemed an excellent opportunity to transport to 

 Dr. Anderson supplies beyond what the Alaska would be able to 

 carry, especially since the Government had sent us more goods than 

 the Polar Bear and Alaska between them could possibly take on. 

 I also learned from several men then at Herschel Island that Cap- 

 tain Allan was a mechanic of more than ordinary skill and was 

 considered in western Alaska, where these informants of mine had 

 known him, to be unequalled in his ability to repair engines, es- 

 pecially when the means at hand were limited. Captain Allan 

 agreed that when the trapping season of the coming winter was over 

 he should proceed to the base of our southern party at Bernard 



