396 The Story of the New England Whalers 



and after a long consultation the captains gave 

 a reluctant consent. At Point Barrow, Tilton 

 got a sled drawn by eight young dogs and two 

 Indian runners. The sled was fitted with a sail 

 to ease the work of the dogs when the wind was 

 fair. Such provisions as could be spared 

 principally hardtack were given him, together 

 with a map, a compass, a gun and cartridges, 

 and a tent. Then on October 27 all the crews 

 assembled to see him start. There were few 

 who did not believe that he would soon perish 

 in one of the blizzards that were fast coming on, 

 and when he began his journey they cheered him 

 until he was out of sight. 



During the first day Tilton covered twenty- 

 eight miles, but never again was he able to do as 

 well. The next day a storm kept the men in their 

 sleeping bags all day. The third day Tilton lost 

 his axe, which had been invaluable for cutting 

 fuel and making paths. They subsequently found 

 a knife in some deserted Eskimo huts, but it 

 could by no means replace the axe. Then Tilton's 

 feet and hands were frosted and on the twelfth 

 day the wind blew the shelter tent away, leaving 



