CHAPTER III 



ESTABLISHING OURSELVES 



Arrival at McCormick Bay — Selecting the Site for the House — Temporary 

 Quarters — Hurrying the Erection of the House — White Whales — Departure 

 of the "Kite" — Alone on the Arctic Shore — A Summer Storm — Arctic Pic- 

 nicking—The First Birthday and the First Deer — Birthday-dinner Menu — 

 Departure of the Boat Party for Hakluyt and Northumberland Islands after 

 Birds and Eskimos — Occupations during their Absence— Return of the Party 

 with an Eskimo Family. 



Sunday, July 26. Mr. Peary is getting along nicely. His 

 nights are fairly comfortable, and consequently he feels much 

 better by day; his back now troubles him more than his leg. 

 Yesterday morning at three o'clock he was awakened and told 

 that the ice prevented our getting to Cape Acland, and that 

 we were just abreast of McCormick Bay, and could not pro- 

 ceed further into the sound. He accordingly decided to put 

 up our quarters on the shores of this bay. It was now a ques- 

 tion as to which side of the bay would be most favorable for a 

 home. At 9 A. M., together with several members of our party, 

 I rowed over to the southeast shore, and walked along the 

 coast for about three miles, prospecting for a site, and made 

 a provisional choice of what seemed a desirable knoll. We 

 returned to the " Kite " about noon. After dinner Professor 

 Heilprin, Dr. Cook, Astrup, and three others went over to 



