332 THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTH POLE 



early in July they crossed the island of North Devon 

 into Jones Sound. Open water was again met, and the 

 party were forced to take to the folding canvas boat. 

 As there was no food for the dogs, they were left behind 

 to shift for themselves. One of the sledges had also 

 to be left, and the other was taken to pieces and 

 carried in the boat. 



Now followed a long struggle, partly by boat and 

 partly by sledge. Birds formed their chief food, and in 

 securing these the last of the ammunition was expended. 

 Baffin's Bay was reached early in September, but it was 

 found impossible to return to Greenland or to reach a 

 place of safety farther south. The only alternative was 

 to make a winter hut and endeavour to secure sufficient 

 food to carry them through till the following spring. 

 They returned westwards to search for a suitable place 

 to winter, and found it at Cape Sparbo, in Jones Sound. 

 Here an underground hut was made of stones, bones, and 

 turf; and by means of primitive weapons they succeeded 

 in killing a sufficient number of animals to enable them 

 to live through the winter, and to provide food and 

 equipment for the return journey to Greenland. 



On 18th February 1909 the winter quarters were left, 

 and Annootok was reached on 15th April. Anxious to 

 return home as speedily as possible, Dr. Cook set out for 

 the Danish settlement at Uperiiavik, where he arrived 

 on 21st May. From there he travelled to Copenhagen 

 by Danish steamers. 



This journey by Dr. Cook is unparalleled in the history 

 of Arctic exploration. The bare idea of attempting to 

 reach the North Pole, in one season, from the latitude of 

 Annootok, was daring in the extreme. It is probably 

 correct to say that no Arctic authority could expect that 

 he would have the smallest chance of success. Many 

 expeditions with much greater resources than Dr. Cook 



