stefansson-wrangel-09-29-003

 159

The outfit had been landed from the schooner the evening of September 15th.
On the 16th Knight for the first time sat on the land while he wrote the day's
entry: "After unloading we slept on the ship but the wind arose from the south
and we were called at 3 A.M. We had time to get our personal stuff ashore and
the Silver Wave departed with three whistles and a great deal of flag dipping,
leaving us to our own resources. We have a good outfit and the fox tracks look
promising, so we should have a successful winter. The surprising thing to me is
the weather, nice gentle winds with an uncommon amount of sunshine for this time
of year and not an ice cake in sight. We see an occasional seal some distance out
but if they were killed it is doutbful if we could get them (for they would
doubtless sink). We have a dory but the surf is unceasing, so it is difficult
to launch it. I had a shot at a large walrus but missed. ... We have an
Eskimo woman with us who is sewing clothing and she is doing very nicely. We
are no busy stacking firewood and getting quarters ready for winter.

"September 17: .... Crawford took a long walk inland. Maurer
and I went about three miles to the westward and found great quantities of
driftwood. This is a good place for fuel. A large number of things I ordered
in Seattle did not arrive and a box of prunces opened to-day were found to be
maggoty. Rather a poor thing to do to a party going north.

"September 18: A beautiful day. Maurer, Galle and I cut and
stacked wood all day in preparation for hauling on the arrival of snow. Saw a
seal and dozens of seagulls and terns. ... no ice in sight. A great number
of white owls about and few ravens but we have not seen a sign of ptarmigan.

"September 19. Everybody busy. Galle making a tool chest,
Maurer putting supplies in shape, Crawford getting out meteorological instruments
and myself repairing sledge and dog harness." "Everybody busy" followed by such
details as these is a typical entry in Knight's diary and we shall not repeat
them. All hands seem to have worked amiably and energetically in getting things