174 WILHELM LAUB. 
MIKKELSEN and IVERSEN were not very likely to return along the east 
coast of Greenland, but after leaving Danmark’s Fjord would continue in 
a westerly direction to Independence Bay and Peary Channel to Cape 
York on the west coast of Greenland; my two companions from the 
sledge trip OLSEN and POULSEN shared my opinion, especially after the 
conversation we had on the morning of April 10th 1910, when we separ- 
ated on the Inlandice, in the course of which conversation Capt. 
MIKKELSEN spoke very definitely about going the whole way round, 
and he asked me expressly whether I thought I could manage with the 
four men left and myself to get the “Alabama” out of the ice in the 
autumn and then home. 
Also as far as Lieutenant JORGENSEN’s illness was concerned, I 
considered it prudent to try to get the expedition home that year, all 
the more as, in the event of having to winter again, we should suffer 
much from want of good clothes. 
With regard to provisions we could have managed to winter, 
mainly with the help of the American depots on Shannon Island and 
Bass Rock. 
But I thought that Capt. MIKKELSEN and IVERSEN would have been 
helped most efficiently by our returning home, should occasion offer, 
instead of our remaining in the winter quarters and awaiting their 
arrival there, as in that case we should be short of provisions, when 
we had seven mouths to fill instead of two. I could not count upon 
shooting any game, as this from our arrival up to the present had proved 
to be exceptionally scarce. 
Therefore the days, until I went on my last sledging tour, were spent 
by me in getting the report ready, whilst the others saved as much 
tackle etc. and also timber and fuel from the “Alabama”, which would 
be of great advantage to us, should we winter again in that place, as 
we should otherwise run out of fuel. 
On June Ist in the evening we started with sufficient provisions. 
and petrol to enable us to reach Bass Rock, not taking the direct 
course, but north of Shannon Island (Fig. 89 and 90) and across to the 
main land at Hochshetter Forland, in order to lay down Capt. Mix- 
KELSEN’s depot reckoned to be sufficient for two men and three dogs 
for six days. 
Provisions for the men. 
Pemmieanıı Urs sr EN ее 3.6 kilo 
Biber. ois ees ee eee Deby = 
те ов 3:06 = 
Chocolate: int В ПП rie de 
Pea jsausage a: sen 0.75 - 
Vegetables... igh ge ава 0.37 - 
DUSIT ee 0.30 - 
Teaser VA eas BENE RENTERNE 0.05 - 
