158 CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



On March i we were ready and waiting for the weather 

 to calm, which happened on the following day, and it was 

 decided that, weather permitting, the start should take place 

 on the 3rd. 



The ship had been doing very well of late, and it was only 

 now and again that she commenced to leak. 



Mr. Storkersen, who was going out with us for the first few 

 days of our trip, and who, with Fiedler, was to form an 

 auxiliary party, had orders to devote all his time after his 

 return to finding and repairing the leak. We had discussed 

 the best way of accomplishing this task, and as he was a very 

 able sailor, we had no doubt that the leak would be repaired if 

 it could only be found. 



We had written letters and orders for the future, and had 

 provided for everything, in case the trials on the pack ice 

 should prove stronger than we, and we should not return from 

 the expedition on which we started with as high hopes of 

 success and with as adequate an outfit as any party of men 

 who had ever gone before us. 



OUR CACHE ASHORE AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. 



