stefansson-wrangel-09-30-007-006

6

On my arrival at Cross Island I immediately acquainted the men with
the state of affairs and the change of command and outlined the plans
which the Commander had spoken to me about at Herschel Island, explaining
to them that the plan of drifting for one year on the ice in the Arctic
Ocean would be by far the most valuable scientifically. But although
they admitted the great scientific value, none of them were willing to
undertake a trip of that kind. They all professed a desire to return to
civilization as soon as they possibly could, saying that they had been in
the Arctic long enough, that they thought they had done what could be
expected of them, and as they were willing to undertake the trip with me
north to latitude 77° or 78° , thence to Prince Patrick Island and to
Cape Kellett on Banks Island, they thought that the expedition and the Canadian
Government could not help but be satisfied with the scientific results
of the expedition in general, and at the same time they would be able to
return to civilization the following summer, which was what they desired
most. So, not being able to get men for the drifting trip, I had to be
satisfied with attempting the trip to Prince Patrick and Banks Island.
During the following three days I put everything in order and had ade-
quate equipment for that trip loaded on my sleds in readiness for our
departure.

WE START OUT ON THE ICE

On the morning of March 15, 1918, I started northward over the ice
with twelve men, fifty-six dogs, and eight sleds, with about eight
thousand pounds of provisions and equipment of all kinds which I deemed
necessary for that kind of work. We camped that night thirteen miles
offshore on moving sea ice, having immediately upon entering on it
noticed its fairly rapid westward drift before the easterly wind.

Ten days later, on March 25th, we were about sixty miles from land,