CHAPTER XXIII. 
FRESH DOGS—THE SLIDES—ROCKING-STONES-OHLSEN’s ACCIDENT 
— ICE-SAILING-MOUNTING THE ' BELT — THE ICE-MARSHES- 
PEKIUTLIK— HANS THE BENEDICK. 
Petersen and myself gave up the sledge to Morton, 
who, with Marsumah and Nessark, set out at once to 
negotiate at Etah, while I took my place with the 
sledge-parties. 
The ice, though not broken up by the storm, had 
been so much affected by it, as well as by the ad¬ 
vancing season, that I felt we could not spare our¬ 
selves an hour’s rest. The snow-fields before us to the 
south were already saturated with wet. Around the 
bergs the black water came directly to the surface, and 
the whole area was spotted with pools. We sum¬ 
moned all our energies on the 5th for this dangerous 
traverse; but, although the boats were unladen and 
every thing transported by sledge, it was impossible to 
prevent accidents. One of the sledges broke through, 
carrying six men into the water, and the Hope nar¬ 
rowly escaped being lost. Her stern went down, and 
she was extricated with great difficulty. 
