CHAPTER LX 



THE TRAGEDY OF BERNARD AND THOMSEN 



THE story begins with part of what Captain Gonzales had re- 

 lated in Melville Island. When Thomsen had arrived at Kel- 

 lett from Liddon Gulf the spring of 1916, he and Captain 

 Bernard had decided upon a well-meant disregard of my orders. 

 There was no man on the expedition more loyal than Bernard or 

 more interested in its success. He had been commander and owner 

 of the Sachs for many years, and aboard of her there had never been 

 discipline but a sort of friendly and amiable anarchy. Apparently 

 the Captain never expected his own orders to be carried out except 

 in the most general way, nor did he have a conception of carrying 

 out orders in any other spirit. He tried to understand what was 

 wanted and worked hard and faithfully towards its accomplish- 

 ment, worked before breakfast and after supper, but always in 

 his own way. 



It appears that when Thomsen came home and explained to 

 Bernard what the situation was, they agreed that we would have 

 great difficulty in Melville Island (as indeed we did) in getting 

 along without more sledges than we had there. They decided that 

 the sensible thing to do was for Thomsen to stay at Kellett until 

 fall. During the summer Captain Pedersen would almost cer- 

 tainly arrive with sledge material, primus stoves and other needed 

 things. As soon as the material was in hand, Bernard would set 

 to work building several sledges while Thomsen did the work around 

 camp. Then with the first snow the two would start off for Mel- 

 ville Island, bringing me as many sledges as they had been able 

 to make and whatever useful things they could haul along. 



This was all against my orders but meant only for our success. 

 This was a procedure which Captain Bernard thought would serve 

 my ends better than the plans I had myself laid down. I know 

 how he must have pictured to himself my rejoicing when they 

 should arrive with all this unexpected and invaluable equipment. 

 Had they arrived, our relief and rejoicing would doubtless have 

 equaled anything that he could have imagined. No doubt there 

 would have been no word said about Thomsen having disobeyed 



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