DRIVEN BY THE STORM 
47 
that when you get into a position where you cannot 
go ahead you can back the sledge or turn it around 
and even go stem first if necessary, without lifting 
it. When, for instance, you come suddenly to a 
crack in the ice, when travelling with the Peary 
sledge, you can turn it around or steer it aside. 
Being constructed with lashings instead of bolts, it 
is flexible and adapted to the rough going over the 
sea ice, while in getting through young ice, on ac¬ 
count of its turned-up rear end it can be easily 
dragged back on to firm ice with a rope. 
