ADRIFT ON THE ICE 171 



against a strong northeast wind, while a kettle of 

 snow was melted for tea, and I was half frozen when 

 at length I crawled into my; sleeping-bag for five 

 hours' rest. 



It was intensely dark when we left Etah. The 

 stars were like a million icicles hung in a silvery sky. 

 At times meteorites fell in glittering showers. The 

 wind was searching cold and bit to the very marrow. 

 Eight hours carried us close to Cape Alexander, 

 where we found large lakes of open water, and, to 

 our disappointment, conditions unfavorable to wal- 

 rus hunting. The urgent need of food for man and 

 dog made this a hunt of necessity so far as the Eski- 

 mos were concerned, and it was determined to push 

 still farther south until walrus should be found. 



The ice barricades were so bad that we were com- 

 pelled to turn to land. With the greatest difficulty 

 we forced our way up the slippery side of Crystal 

 Palace Glacier, and when at length we reached the 

 smooth plain of the ice cap above, I was dripping 

 from head to foot with perspiration. For miles we 

 sped along at a good pace, when it was decided to 

 try the ice foot again. The snow was hard as ice, 

 steps had to be cut, sledges lowered with lines, and 

 infinite effort expended in the descent, but all to no 

 purpose. 



Rafted ice made progress here impossible, and 

 again we were forced back upon the land. Two 

 mountains were climbed in regaining the ice cap, and 

 then for about five miles a gradual slope of smooth 



