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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 





Photo and Copyright by Underwood & Underwood 

 ESKIMOS ON THE ICE IN NORTH STAR BAY 



farthest point three years before. Two 

 others, Egingwah and Sigloo, were in 

 Clark's division, which had such a nar- 

 row escape at that time, and now were 

 willing to go anywhere with my imme- 

 diate party, and willing to risk them- 

 selves again in any supporting party. 



The fifth was a young man who had 

 never served before in an)' expedi- 

 tion, but who was, if possible, even 

 more willing and eager than the others 

 for the princely gifts — a boat, a rifle, a 

 shotgun, ammunition, knives, etc. — 

 which I had promised to each of them 

 who reached the pole with me ; for he 

 knew that these riches would enable him 

 to wrest from a stubborn father the girl 

 whose image filled his hot young heart. 



All had blind confidence so long as 

 I was with them and gave no thought 

 for the morrow, sure that whatever 

 happened I should somehow get them 

 back to land. But I dealt with the 



party equally. I recognized that all 

 its impetus centered in me and that,, 

 whatever pace I set, it would make 

 good. If any one was played out, I 

 would stop for a short time.. 



I had no fault to find with the condi- 

 tions. My dogs were the very best, the 

 pick of 122 with which we left Colum- 

 bia. Almost all were powerful males,, 

 hard as nails, in good flesh, but without 

 a superfluous ounce, without a suspicion 

 of fat anywhere ; and, what was bet- 

 ter yet, they were all in good spirits. 



My sledges, now that the repairs 

 were completed, were in good condition. 

 My supplies were ample for forty days,, 

 and with the reserve, represented by the 

 dogs themselves, could be made to last 

 fifty. 



Pacing back and forth in the lee of 

 the pressure ridge where our igloos were 

 built, while my men got their loads ready 

 for the next marches, I settled on my 



