PARTIES TURN BACK 
snow; for the rest of the day it improved. 
We encountered comparatively level ice, with 
a few hummocks, and in places covered with 
deep snow. We camped at eight p. m., be- 
side a very heavy pressure-ridge as long as a 
city street and as high as the houses along the 
street. 
March 25: Turned out at four-thirty 
A. M., to find a steadily falling snow storm 
upon us. We breakfasted, and fifteen min- 
utes later we were once more at work making 
trail. Our burly neighbor, the pressure-ridge, 
in whose lee we had spent the night, did not 
make an insuperable obstacle, and in the 
course of an hour we had made a trail across 
it, and returned to the igloo for the sledges. 
We found that the main column had reached 
camp, and after greetings had been given. 
Commander Peary called me aside and gave 
me my orders; to take the trail at once, to 
speed it up to the best of my ability and 
cover as much distance as possible; for he in- 
tended that I should remain at the igloo the 
following day to sort out the best dogs and 
rearrange the loads, as Marvin was to turn 
back with the fourth supporting-party. My 
112 
