PEARY'S EXPEDITION (1895) 307 



Next day, Henson was sent back with the sledge and a 

 load of meat to the moraine where Lee was. On the way 

 there he came across the musk-oxen, but the dogs gave 

 chase and thoroughly frightened them. 



About the fourth day, Henson and Lee joined Peary, and 

 an attempt was now made to reach the sea. Several days 

 were spent in incessant climbing, scrambling, and jumping 

 over rocks, but at the end of it they found themselves 

 still some 3000 feet above sea-level. To reach the bay 

 ice it would be necessary to carry supplies on their backs 

 for some distance over rocks, then down a precipitous 

 shore, across a glacier's lateral canon, and then over several 

 miles of crevasse-riven glacier. 



Peary now found himself compelled to retrace his steps. 

 A sharp look-out was kept for fresh traces of musk-oxen, 

 but no signs were discovered. 



To reach the moraine was a hard struggle, but they 

 were able to leave it on the 1st of June to begin the 

 homeward journey over the ice-cap. On the second day 

 they were fortunate in finding the cache without much 

 trouble. 



Peary had now nine dogs and fourteen days 1 rations for 

 them. For himself and his two companions he had thirty 

 days 1 half -rations of tea, biscuit, and oil, and several days 1 

 rations of frozen venison. 



On the 3rd June the distance travelled was 25^ miles, 

 but all the party had trouble with their feet and legs as 

 a result of the severe work among the rocks. On the 

 6th June, Lee was ill and quite used-up, but by means of 

 a line from the sledge to support himself by, he managed 

 to struggle along. On the 7th two dogs were quite 

 exhausted, and were fed to the other seven. On the 8th 

 the larger of the two sledges was abandoned. On the 

 9th, after 4 miles 1 travelling, they were obliged to camp 

 on account of Lee. Alter fifteen hours 1 rest and an extra 



