THE VOYAGE OVER THE PACK ICE 



189 



were in good condition and took our sledges across the island 

 at a run, but as soon as we struck the sea ice the speed 

 slackened considerably. 



Half a mile from the shore we began to use our pickaxes in 

 order to break a road through the uneven ice ; we were often 

 obliged to stop to cut down high and steep snowdrifts, as we 



WE FOUND OLD ICE. 



were very careful about the sledges. Time after time the 

 whole procession halted while Sachawachick and my self went 

 ahead to look for a comparatively good trail, or while from the 

 top of an iceblock we scanned the horizon for level ice or for 

 a promising road northward. Progress was slow, and young 

 salty ice forced us to toil hard at the hauling straps in order to 

 help the dogs to move the heavy loads. Only a few miles 

 from land we found small and scattered pieces of old ice, and 

 even this small experience showed us that if we ever struck 

 larger expanse's of that kind of ice we could make splendid 

 headway. At 12.30 we reached a lane about seventy-five 

 yards wide, and as we failed to find a crossing or a passage 

 along its edge, we camped, and Sachawachick and Hicky, who 

 had been our companions till then, bade us good-bye. Our 

 old Eskimo friend did not like parting and thought that he 



