THE BIG LEAD 
Indeed, two of the older ones, Panikpah and 
Pooadloonah, became so fractious that the 
Commander sent them back, with a written 
order to Gushue on the ship, to let them pack 
up their things and take their families and 
dogs back to Esquimo land, which they did. 
When the Roosevelt reached Etah the follow- 
ing August, on her return, these two men were 
there, fat and healthy, and merrily greeted us. 
No hard feelings whatever. 
March 10; We could have crossed to-day, 
but there was a chance of Marvin and Borup 
catching up with their loads of alcohol, etc. 
Whether they catch up or not, to-morrow, 
early, we start across, and the indications are 
that the going will be heavy, for the ice is piled 
in rafters of pressure-ridges. 
It was exasperating ; seven precious days of 
fine weather lost; and fine weather is the ex- 
ception, not the rule, in the Arctic. Here we 
were resting in camp, although we were not 
extremely tired and nowhere near exhausted. 
We were ready and anxious to travel on the 
5th, next morning after we reached the "Big 
Lead," but were perforce compelled to inac- 
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