stefansson-wrangel-09-26-001-048

33

We camped and waited for the ice to stop crushing.
That evening about eight o’clock we were all in our blankets and
I was listening to the ice we were on groaning and vibrating when,
snap! it cracked right across the floor of our house. We tumbled
out as quickly as we could, packed the gear on the sled, hitched up
the dogs and got everything ready for retreat. I found we were
surrounded by lanes of water, but, as we were two or three miles
from the ridge, I thought we wouldn’t do anything until daylight
unless we had to because it was so dark you could cut it and it
was impossible to see where you were going. So we walked around
to keep ourselves warm until daylight and being mighty careful not
to step off the little ice island we were on into the rather chilly
salt water. When it was light enough we started to climb back.
Then the ice began to get its work in, splitting and opening up in
all directions. But there was no crushing where we were. About
4 P.M. we managed to get back to the solid pack and picked a place
to camp.

Next morning I heard more crushing. We again packed
up. We moved southeast a few miles and then south and camped about
two miles from the ridge. The Chief and I walked down to have a
look at it and found it still crushing a bit, so we concluded to wait
another day. We knew the Captain's gang would be along shortly. All
hands could then pitch in and cut our way through, for we knew the
ridge was solidly grounded on the sea bottom and once inside it we
would be safe. It certainly was there to stay till summer. On our
way back from this inspection we saw the Captain coming from the
north. I walked ahead to meet him and tell him how things were going.

Next morning all hands pitched in with everything
they could work with. After a discussion with me the Captain