56 MY ARCTIC JOURNAL 



deep snow had prevented their making more than one or one 

 and a half miles per day ; that Verhoeff had frozen his face, and 

 that they had then decided to return to Redclififc, report the 

 condition of the traveling, and see if Mr. Peary wished them to 

 keep on. After reaching Redcliffe, Mr. Peary gave the inland 

 ice party a few days' rest, and then sent them in the " Faith," 

 our largest whale-boat, back to the head of McCormick Bay 

 to bring home their equipment and place all the provisions in 

 a cache which would be easily accessible. Gibson and Ver- 

 hoeff were to put in two or three days hunting deer, while 

 Astrup was to make a careful examination of the cliffs and 

 glaciers to ascertain the most practicable route to the ice-cap 

 with dogs and sledges. They returned in four days, and we 

 immediately began work changing the equipment to make it 

 suitable for two persons instead of three, and dried out the 

 sleeping-bags thoroughly. Three days afterward, September 

 22, Astrup and Gibson again set out for the inland ice. 



Wednesday, September 23. This morning at 9.30 Mr. Peary, 

 Matt, Dr. Cook, Ikwa, and myself started in the " Mary Peary " 

 for a trip up Inglefield Gulf There was not a breath of air 

 stirring, and the boys had to row from the start. Before we 

 had gone a mile, several burgomasters flew over our heads, and 

 we next came upon a flock of eiders, but did not get within 

 gunshot. When just off Cape Cleveland, we caught sight of 

 several walrus in the middle of the bay, and made for them. 

 A number of shots were fired, and some of the animals were 

 wounded ; but as Ikwa said we should be sure to find " amis- 



