3 i4 THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTH POLE 



take the ice-foot route round it rather than cross 

 Feilden Peninsula. At the very extremity of the cape 

 the sledges had to be passed along a shelf of ice 3 feet 

 in width and 75 feet above the sea. 



On 6th April, Peary, Henson, and four Eskimo left 

 Crozier Island, and when opposite Cape Hecla turned 

 north over the polar pack. Now began a desperate 

 strua-ode over rough ice. The route was a continual zig- 

 zag, and the pickaxe had to be used constantly. In deep 

 snow the dogs floundered and were almost useless, and a 

 sledge had now and again to be dug out of a hole among 



snow. 



On the 12th April they were storm-bound by a gale 

 from the west which caused leads to form. Under great 

 difficulties the journey was continued till the 21st April. 

 On this date the latitude was 84° IT 27". The ice was 

 still very rough, and the snow so deep that it was almost 

 impracticable. The entire pack seemed to be in slow 

 motion towards the east. Peary here decided to return. 

 He hurried his departure in order to utilise as much of 

 his outward tracks as possible. He found, however, that 

 the movement of the ice had faulted the trail in various 

 places, and it was only with great difficulty that it could 

 be followed. Crozier Island was again reached on 29th 

 April, and Fort Conger on 3rd May. 



Fort Conger was left on 6th May, and Payer Harbour 

 was reached on the 17th. The Windivard arrived on 

 the 5th August, and conveyed Peary and his party to 

 America. 



The year 1905 saw Peary again on his way to the 

 north. His expedition sailed from New York on 12th 

 July 1905 on board the Roosevelt. Etah was left on 

 16th August, and after various encounters with the ice 

 the Roosevelt succeeded in reaching Cape Sheridan on 

 5th September. The vessel here suffered severe pressure, 



