stefansson-wrangel-09-25-006-054

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south when last seen, and were soon out of sight."

January 29th: "Blowing a howling gale from the east.
This camp is very comfortable and a little wood goes a very long way. Yes-
terday and to-day I have been busy fixing the place up, making it convenient
for two people. Now we are well fixed until the snow starts to melt in the
spring. All of the boxes outside will then have to be cleaned out (the
snow removed from them), the roof and walls of the house dug away, and numerous
other things will keep us busy. If only a bear would wander into camp, we
would be fixed in great shape for a long while, for with only two of us and
no dogs a bear would go a long way. In a couple of months the females will be
coming out of their holes with their cubs and then we should have plenty of
meat. My left leg just above the knee is considerably swollen and is giving
me some pain. Whether it is from scurvy or not I am not sure and, although
it does not lay me up, it makes moving rather painful. Fresh meat will fix
me up, I am sure.

I wonder what people will say about my staying here alone
with the woman. Crawford and I talked the matter over thoroughly and, although
I disliked staying and he disliked my staying, we came to the conclusion that
it was the best thing to do. Stefansson, I am sure, will agree to that. And with
some discretion, I am sure the three who have just left can soften things down
a lot when they get to Nome. The woman does not seem to mind it and, to be
perfectly frank, I think she is rather glad of the circumstance, for she is
most anxious to get a white man for a husband. No chance as far as I am
concerned.

This, the day after the party left, is not only on the
whole a cheerful entry but one which gives an answer to many of the questions
that have been asked since the tragic outcome became known. Few of the
theories that have pleased the journalists best can be held except by ignoring