BOAT JOURNEYS AND PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER 55 



The footprints were those of two persons walking in the direc- 

 tion of Redcliffe. What a peculiar sensation it is to find signs 

 of human beings in a place where you believe yourself and 

 party to be the only inhabitants ! After examining them care- 

 full)% Ikwa said Gibson and Verhoefif had passed down the 

 beach that morning. This worried Mr. Peary, for the supposi- 

 tion was that something must have happened to one of the 

 party, and the other two were bringing him to Redcliffe. He 

 was reassured, however, in a few minutes ; for on following the 

 footprints a little distance, I found the prints of all three of the 

 boys, and we knew that the inland ice party had returned. 

 Knowing that they would make themselves comfortable at the 

 house, Mr. Peary decided to keep on to the hunting-grounds, 

 which we reached in the early afternoon. During our three 

 days' stay in this lovely valley. Matt and Ikwa bagged nine 

 deer; I myself went hunting once or twice, but without suc- 

 cess Most of my time was devoted to taking photographs 

 of the glaciers in the vicinity, and keeping camp. The sand 

 along the shore was too deep and the hills were too steep for 

 Mr. Peary to take long walks in any direction, and he was 

 glad to have company in camp. 



On Monday we loaded our boat with the trophies of the 

 chase, and sailed for home. When within three and a half 

 miles of the house, we saw Astrup and Verhoeff coming up the 

 beach, and we immediately hailed them, and pulled for the 

 shore. They got into the boat, and during our sail home 

 Astrup told of the continued storm on the ice-cap ; how the 



