FORWARD ! MARCH ! 
Day does not break in the Arctic regions, it 
just comes on quietly the same as down here, 
but I must say that at daybreak on March 1, 
1909, we were all excitement and attention. 
A furious wind was blowing, which we took as 
a good omen; for, on all of Commander 
Peary's travelings, a good big, heavy, storm 
of blinding snow has been his stirrup-cup and 
here he had his last. Systematically we had 
completed our preparations on the two days 
previous, so that, by six a. m. of the 1st of 
March, we were ready and standing at the up- 
standers of our sledges, awaiting the conmiand 
"Forward! March!" 
Already, difficulties had commenced. Oob- 
looyah and Slocum (Esquimo name, Inighito, 
but, on account of his dilatory habits, known 
as Slocum) were incapacitated; Ooblooyah 
with a swelled knee, and Slocum with a frozen 
heel. The cold gets you in most any place, 
up there. 
I and my three boys were ordered to take 
the lead. We did so, at about half past six 
o'clock in the morning. Forward! March! 
and we were off. 
77 
