60 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



1 seal, 14 eider ducks, 8 dovekies, 6 auks, and 1 ptarmigan 

 had been shot and brought on board. In addition to 

 these, some 20 to 30 reindeer had been cached in various 

 places. Hayes naturally came to the conclusion that 

 men might live indefinitely at Port Foulke without being 

 troubled with scurvy. 



On the 19th November, one of the Esquimaux, Peter, 

 disappeared. For some time Hayes had observed a 

 rivalry between Hans and Peter, and he took the side 

 of the latter. Hans was jealous of every act of favour 

 towards Peter, and Hayes was inclined to believe that Hans 

 had been the means of frightening Peter and of making 

 him run off. No news was received as to his where- 

 abouts until months afterwards, when some Esquimaux 

 found his dead body in a hut a long distance from the ship. 



Early in December a serious disease attacked the dogs, 

 similar to what Kane had to deal with. Hayes had at this 

 time thirty-six, and the first attacked by the disease was 

 shot. However, seven died within four days, and during 

 the first two weeks of December eighteen died. At the 

 end of the following week only nine dogs were left. This 

 was a serious blow to Hayes, as he relied chiefly on the 

 dogs for transport across the ice. It was now necessary 

 to devise means for remedying the loss, or to arrange new 

 plans in conformity with the changed circumstances. 

 The first expedient which suggested itself was to open 

 communication with the Esquimaux of Whale Sound, 

 from whom some animals might be obtained. From 

 Plans it was learned that there was a family living on 

 Northumberland Island, several families on the south side 

 of Whale Sound, and possibly one or more on the north 

 side. Northumberland Island was about 100 miles 

 distant, and the south side of the Sound about 150. It 

 was decided that if a sufficient number of dogs remained 

 alive when the moon came in December, Sonntag 



