PARTIES TURN BACK 
We said nothing to the Commander when he 
caught up with us, but his quick eye took in 
at a glance the experience we had been 
through. The repairs having been completed, 
we again started. Before us stretched a 
heavy, old floe, giving us good going until we 
reached the lead, when the order was given to 
camp. We built our igloos, and boiled the tea 
and had what we called supper. 
Commander Peary called me over to his 
igloo and gave me my orders: first; that I 
should at once select the best dogs of the three 
teams, as the ones disqualified by me would on 
the following morning be sent back to the ship, 
in care of the third supporting party, which 
was to turn back. Secondly ; that I should re- 
arrange the loads on the remainder of the 
sledges, there now being ten in number. It 
was eight p. m. when I began work and two 
the following morning when I had finished. 
March 20: During the night, the Com- 
mander had a long talk with Borup, and in 
the morning my good friend, in command of 
the third supporting party, bade us all good- 
by and took his detachment back to land and 
headquarters. There were three Esquimos 
106 
