ch. xl] Attempts to reach the North Pole 355 
fitted to his sledge. But there is no mention of any 
observations for true bearing of the sun and that he 
made none is conclusively proved by the fact that in 
returning he was unable to follow his outward tracks 
and his route was consequently far to the west of 
Svartevaeg, until at length he found himself in Hassel 
Strait between the two Ringnes Islands, unable to reach 
his depot. 
Cook was in great difficulties, but eventually he found 
his way to Jones Sound, thanks to the collapsible boat 
and to the efficiency and resourcefulness of the two 
Eskimo lads. The party wintered at Cape Sparbo in 
Jones Sound on the north-west coast of North Devon. 
Cartridges had run out and they had no native weapons. 
It was due to the wonderful skill and energy of the 
two young Arctic Highlanders that weapons were con- 
trived out of unpromising materials, and sufficient game 
obtained to enable them to live through the winter. 
In the spring they had to make the long journey from 
Jones Sound to Anoatok, a great part of the route being 
over new ground. Eventually Cook returned by a Danish 
ship, having gone from Smith Sound across Melville 
Bay to Upernivik. He left his instruments and some 
notes behind to be taken back in the next ship, con- 
sidering that there was danger of losing them if he had 
taken them with him on his long journey. 
Peary, with strong financial support, fitted out a 
well-found steamer, the Roosevelt, in the following year, 
with Captain Bartlett, a native of Newfoundland, as 
Master. With him went his secretary, Ross Marvin, 
Dr Goodsell as surgeon, two volunteers named Macmillan 
and Borup, and his negro servant Henson. There were 
22 men all told when the steamer started in July 1908, 
and at Etah 22 Eskimo men, 17 women, and 246 dogs 
were taken on board. On August 18th the voyage was 
resumed, and on September 4th the neighbourhood of 
the Alert 1 s winter quarters was reached, and autumn 
parties were sent forward to Cape Colombia to form a 
depot, this being Peary's starting-point for the Pole. 
In order that the expedition might be of some use, 
the American Coast and Geodetic Survey officials arranged 
that there should be tidal observations, and that soundings 
23—2 
