RETURN OF THE EXPLORERS 1 87 



thought that we might land in the lee of the great cliffs just 

 east of Cape Clevelanil. The boat was put in charge of the 

 second mate, who, with the three strongest sailors, pulled Mr. 

 Peary, Astrup, and myself to the shore, a distance of perhaps 

 half a mile. We got along well in spite of the great billows 

 until we reached the shore, where, before we could make a 

 landing, two waves in rapid succession broke over our boat, 

 almost filling it with water, and nearly swamping us. I was 

 completely drenched. 



Just before reaching Cripple Point we were met by Dr. 

 Cook, Verhoeff, and Gibson, anxious to greet the inland ice- 

 party, of whose return they had been apprised by Matt. It 

 was very curious to watch the expressions on the faces of the 

 natives, who stood in groups about Redcliffe House staring 

 at Mr. Peary and Astrup as they approached. When they 

 were spoken to they answered in low, frightened tones, and 

 they could not be induced to come forward and shake hands, 

 or in any way come in contact with the two, until they were 

 convinced that they were really human beings, and not great 

 spirits come down from the ice-cap. Then they were very 

 anxious to know if Mr. Peary had seen the spirits of the 

 departed Eskimos, what they lived on, how they looked, and 

 all about them. They were very much surprised not only to 

 see the dogs return alive, but to see them in much better 

 condition than when they left, as they had repeatedly said 

 the Americans did not know how to feed the Eskimo dog, and 

 he would soon starve under their treatment. Now they have 



