PIONEERING 
at the lead; and when it closed we pushed on 
across the pressure-ridges on to the heavy and 
cumbrous ice of the circumpolar sea. We 
were sure that we had passed the main obstruc- 
tion, and in spite of the failure of Marvin and 
Borup to come in with the essentials of fuel- 
alcohol and food, Commander Peary insisted 
on pushing forward. 
Prof. Donald B. MacMillan was with the 
party, but Commander Peary knew, without 
his telling him, that he was really no longer fit 
to travel, and Dr. Goodsell was not as far 
north of the land as original plans intended, 
so when both MacMillan and Goodsell were 
told that they must start back to the ship, I 
was not surprised. 
It was on March 14 that the first support- 
ing-party finally turned back. It was my 
impression that Professor MacMillan would 
command it, but Commander Peary sent the 
Doctor back in charge, with the two boys Arco 
and Wesharkoupsi. A few hours before the 
turning back of Dr. Goodsell, an Esquimo 
courier from Professor Marvin's detachment 
had overtaken us, with the welcome news that 
both Borup and Marvin, with complete loads, 
95 
