CHAPTER IX. 
TIIE DEPOT JOURNEY-THE ICE-BELT-CROSSING MINTURN RIVER 
-SKELETON MUSK OX-CROSSING TIIE GLACIER-PORTAGE OF 
INSTRUMENTS-EXCESSIVE BURDEN-MARY MINTURN RIVER- 
FORDING TIIE RIVER — THACKERAY nEADLAND-CAPE GEORGE 
RUSSELL—RETURN TO THE BRIG-THE WINTER HARBOR. 
In the first portions of our journey, we found a nar¬ 
row but obstructed passage between the ice-belt and 
the outside pack. It was but a few yards in width, 
and the young ice upon it was nearly thick enough to 
bear our weight. By breaking it up we were able with 
effort to make about seven miles a day. 
After such work, wet, cold, and hungry, the night’s 
rest was very welcome. A couple of stanchions were 
rigged fore and aft, a sail tightly spread over the canvas 
cover of our boat, the cooking-lamp lit, and the buffalo- 
robes spi’ead out. Dry socks replaced the wet; hot tea 
and pemmican followed; and very soon we forgot the 
discomforts of the day, the smokers musing over their 
pipes, and the sleepers snoring in dreamless forget¬ 
fulness. 
We had been out something less than twenty-four 
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