298 THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTH POLE 



till the 25th March. The velocity of the wind averaged 

 over 48 miles per hour during thirty-four hours, and the 

 average temperature was 50° F. below zero. In Peary's 

 opinion this storm was the most severe ever experienced 

 by any Arctic party. 



After the storm was over, half of the dogs were found 

 frozen fast in the snow, some by the legs, some by the 

 tails, and some by both. Two were dead. 



During the storm Davidson had his heel, and Clark a 

 toe and three fingers, frost-bitten. Davidson had to be 

 sent back to the Lodge with the doctor. This now- 

 reduced the party to four, and Peary made a cache of 

 supplies, and readjusted the loads. 



Each of Peary's companions now had a large sledge 

 drawn by eighteen dogs. During the first march they 

 advanced 7 miles in a temperature of 46° F. below zero. 

 On the 27th March they had considerable difficulty with 

 the sledges : one broke in the bend of one of the runners, 

 and it was converted into a three-runner sledge by lashing 

 another sledge alongside it ; and a second one was seriously 

 damaged. 



While engaged in repairing the sledges, Entrikin had 

 the soles of his feet frost-bitten. To make matters worse, 

 next day he strained his back in making efforts to start 

 the sledge. During the night the temperature remained 

 between 55° and 57° F. below zero. 



The dogs were now in bad condition : three had been 

 killed and used as dog-food, another died from the effects 

 of the storm, and several had frost-bitten feet. 



At the next camp Peary decided to rest two days, so as 

 to give Entrikin a final chance of recovery, and also with 

 the object of getting the dogs into better condition. 



On the 3rd April, Entrikin's feet were much better, 

 and the party pushed on a distance of 15 miles. On 

 this day, however, one of the dogs was attacked by the 



