246 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



Cape Camperdown, but here the ice compelled them to 

 steer a course more and more to the east. While in this 

 position, a steamer was seen to issue from Payer Harbour. 

 Sverdrup at once came to the conclusion that it was 

 looking for Peary, and would probably have letters from 

 Norway. An attempt was made to meet each other, but 

 they could not get nearer than about 5 miles. Then the 

 American ship signalled that she had letters on board 

 for Sverdrup, and steered off southward. The farthest 

 point reached by the Fram was about abreast of Cape 

 Hawks. Here she lay in the ice several days, and at last 

 got free only a few miles north of Cape Sabine. 



Sverdrup now decided to go across to Foulke Fiord. 

 There one of Peary's ships was found, and it was 

 ascertained that the Norwegian mail had been left at 

 Payer Harbour. 



Foulke Fiord was left on 12th August, and a course 

 was steered for Payer Harbour to fetch the mail. It was 

 soon seen, however, that it was impossible to reach it 

 through such masses of ice as were encountered. A course 

 was tried farther south, but with no better result. Then 

 several attempts were made along the Greenland side, 

 and across towards Payer Harbour, but each ended in 

 failure. 



After a good deal of deliberation, it was finally decided 

 to make for Jones Sound. It was a great disappointment 

 that they were unable to proceed through Kane Basin 

 towards the north of Greenland ; and the failure to 

 reach their letters very much depressed the spirits of the 

 party. 



A course was now set for the walrus-shoals off North- 

 umberland Island, where twenty-two of the animals were 

 killed to serve as dog-food during the winter. 



Jones Sound was entered on 24th August. A place of 

 anchorage was found in a fiord a little west of Cone 



