16 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



formed on a small island in the harbour ; an observatory 

 was built on another island ; and a deck-house was made 

 to protect the Advance. 



Arrangements were then made to form provision-depots 

 along the Greenland coast for the purpose of northern 

 exploration. The first depot party left on the 20th of 

 September, and returned on the 15th of October. On 

 the 25th of September this party reached Cape Russell, 

 where the first cache of pemmican, together with 

 some bread and alcohol for fuel, was made. A second 

 cache was made at Cape Bonsall, about 30 miles to the 

 north-east of the first depot. They reached their 

 highest latitude, 79° 50', on 6th October. A third 

 cache was placed on a low island near the Humboldt 

 Glacier. 



A sunless winter of one hundred and forty davs now 

 closed upon them. The influence of the long, intense 

 darkness was found most depressing. Most of the dogs 

 died during this winter from convulsions. The tempera- 

 ture went down to as low as 68° F. below zero during 1 

 February. The dreadful scurvy made its appearance, 

 and by the middle of March only two members of the 

 party were free of it. The supplies of the expedition 

 were found to be altogether inadequate, both as regard 

 provisions and fuel. On the 19th of March 1854, the 

 first spring party left the brig, with the object of forming 

 more depdts. The temperature was about 40° F. below 

 zero. On 31st March three of this party made their 

 appearance at the brig unexpectedly. Kane graphically 

 describes the incident : " They were swollen and haggard, 

 and hardly able to speak. Their story was a fearful one. 

 They had left their companions in the ice, risking their own 

 lives to bring us the news : Brooks, Baker, Wilson, and 

 Pierre were all lying frozen and disabled. Where ? They 

 could not tell : somewhere in among the hummocks to 



