248 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



There was a space of about a foot in height between 

 the two tents, and a space of 3 or 4 inches between the 

 vertical walls. 



Two days were spent in the house at Baadsfiord, from 

 which they again set out on 18th October. On the 19th 

 they were stopped by open water beyond Stormkap, and 

 here formed a depot in which was also placed the most 

 of the meat from two bears which had been shot on the 

 way. In returning they explored a large fiord between 

 Baadsfiord and Stormkap, where they shot twenty-six 

 polar oxen. The fiord received the appropriate name of 

 " Moskusfiord. 11 It was a large task to carry all the 

 meat to the ship, but after several trips it was completed 

 by the 18th of November. 



In Sverdrup's opinion, Eskimo dogs should be fed once 

 every day. He believes that if well fed and protected 

 from cold in suitable kennels there is no reason why so 

 many should die during the winter. He found his dogs 

 in full vigour even at the darkest period of the year. 



The winter passed in making preparations for the 

 spring journeys. On the 23rd February 1900 four men 

 set out for the westernmost depot, where they were to 

 leave their loads. When they reached it they found it 

 destroyed by bears, and nearly the whole of the food 

 eaten. Sverdrup now decided that a man should remain 

 at the depot as long as any sledge-parties were travelling 

 west of it. Bay at once applied for the post, and was 

 appointed " Commandant of Bjorneborg."" Here he lived 

 alone for three months. 



On the 20th March the great spring expedition started 

 off. On the 17th a party of four had left for the depot. 

 The larger party consisted of six men, who were ultimately 

 to form three parties of two men each. The dogs numbered 

 fifty-five. The provisions consisted of bread, butter, 

 sugar, coffee, chocolate, pea-soup, vegetables, figs, French 



