CHAPTER XIII 
THE SUPPORTING-PARTIES BEGIN TO TURN BACK 
MARCH 19: We left camp in a haze of 
bitter cold; the ice conditions about the 
same as the previous day; high rafters, huge 
and jagged; and we pickaxed the way con- 
tinuously. By noontime, we found ourselves 
alongside of a lead covered by a film of young 
ice. We forced the dogs and they took it on 
the run, the ice undulating beneath them, the 
same as it does when little wanton boys play 
at tichley benders, often with serious results, 
on the newly formed ice on ponds and brooks 
down in civilization. Our tickley benders 
were not done in the spirit of play, but on 
account of urgent necessity, and as it was I 
nearly suffered a serious loss of precious pos- 
sessions. 
One of the sledges, driven by Ahwatingwah, 
broke through the ice and its load, which con- 
sisted of my extra equipment, such as kamiks, 
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