284 THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTH POLE 



to the eastward. At the end of this march there were 

 signs of an approaching storm, and a snow igloo was 

 built for shelter. 



The storm lasted forty-eight hours, and it took a long 

 time to dig out the sledges, which had been completely 

 buried in snow-drifts, and reload them. 



Starting out from here, they found that the storm had 

 made a good road for them, and they covered 20 miles 

 during the first march. On the following day they 

 again made 20 miles, and reached the point where 

 Peary decided the supporting party should leave him. 

 They were now 130 miles from the shore of McCormick 

 Bay. 



It was here that Peary resolved to take only one 

 companion with him. It had originally been his inten- 

 tion to take two, but due to a frozen heel, Henson had 

 to be sent back to Red Cliff from the edge of the ice- 

 cap. All three of his companions volunteered to go 

 with him. Peary decided that Astrup should be his 

 companion, that Gibson should return in command of 

 the supporting party, and that, on their return to Red 

 Cliff, Dr. Cook was to assume charge. 



Next day, Gibson and Dr. Cook started on the return 

 journey, and Peary and Astrup continued the march 

 towards the north-east. Peary had now thirteen dogs. 

 On the second march all the dogs were made to drag 

 the big sledge, and the other two sledges were put in 

 tow of the big one. Peary went ahead as guide, and 

 Astrup followed driving the dogs. They had gone but 

 a short distance on this march when the big dog-sledge 

 broke down, one side bending inward and breaking all 

 the standards on that side. This at first seemed a serious 

 accident, but by lashing the broken sledge alongside 

 another, and so making a broad 4-foot- wide sledge 

 with three runners, the difficulty was overcome. The 



