CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



But the Belvedere was busy and stayed only for half an hour, 

 which, of course, hardly enabled us to get the last year's news 

 from the outer world. Mr. Stefansson with his party was on 

 board, and we took Fiedler and Sachawachick ashore, while he 

 and Hicky went on with the steamer to Herschel Island in 



order to do some digging for 



P ethnographical specimens on 



that place. 



A few hours after the Bel- 

 vedere had left we had other 

 visitors ; Dan Sweeney and 

 Axel Anderson came from 

 Point Barrow in an old skiff, 

 bringing some provisions and 

 other things to Ned Erie. 

 We cracked a bottle of whisky 

 in their honour, and Dan, who 

 had not tasted whisky for a 

 long time, was soon walking 

 about proud as a king and 

 already imagining himself the 

 owner of a large and produc- 

 tive gold-mine. 



Dr. Howe wanted to go 

 down to Ned with Sweeney's 

 boat, at the same time taking 

 a rowing-boat in which to 

 bring Mr. Leffingwell back, 

 and as he was no longer 

 needed on Storkersen's account, there was nothing to prevent 

 his going. After he had gone I moved down to the native 

 village to be nearer at hand when the next steamer came. 



The next vessel, S.S. Herman, Captain Tilton, came on 

 July 30, and anchored close to the island to disembark 

 some provisions which he had brought for us. It was very kind of 

 Captain Tilton to do so, as it saved us the trouble of having the 

 goods landed on Herschel Island and afterwards shipped back 

 to Flaxman Island on board another steamer. But more pro- 

 visions were to come on board S.S. Beluga and S.S. Bowhead, 

 and we were still keeping a sharp look-out for them. The 



s.s. 



HERMAN DISCHARGING STORES 

 OFF FLAXMAN ISLAND. 



