326
I have been quietly
preparing for it by feeding up Hans and
giving the refuse of our deer to the dogs;
both are now in excellent condition and
upon Hans tenacity I can rely - [Godfrey
failed because he was a poor devil
I failed twice - because I was a weak one
but in my own cases I was [buried?] in
darkness [and surrounded by] is now done and the fearful
cold - Hans will have good daylight
and the ice is so improved for sledge travel
that he can go alone this will give
him the great advantage of riding - and
as he can halt at [Anatok?] there is in
my mind no doubt but that he will
reach our desired goal. But if he shd. delay a day too
long his return? - Petersen is next to worthless, and I cannot nurse & hunt both.
*omit*
The Therm for past five days extremely
regular rising by midnight to -50o -52o
and by 10 am as high as -33. -35 - - the
depressing being the same for equal hours.
Our hours of greatest cold are accompanied
by an ice fog which stretches in a long
hazy belt - up Charlotte Woods Fiord. Why
this?
Deer are still around us eight miles off.
*end omit*
Mon. Mar. 5
Hans shot a single Ptarmagan
- divided it raw between five of our worst
patients. Petersen saw no less than
twelve deer. Melancholy to narrate. - a mother
and yearling fawn came within shot but the
rifle missed fire this is an accident carefully
guarded against by regulations -
but it cannot be always prevented.
Our sick are now four days without meat[less] and
their gums [beginning to] are [breaking?] out afresh
*omit*
Look down canvas bagging &c for
boat equipments.
Addressed a letter to Mr. Petersen
offering to re engage him, if he desires it,
EN