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May
Tuesday May 1
The dogs returned last night with a
heavy load of meat. They left Lesser
Bay on the 29.^th [?] but bring no news of
[?].

My dogs are needed imperatively for
the important duty of carrying provisions
to the [?] Anoatok as a relief to my
boats cargo : this duty cannot be post-
poned long. On the other hand even a
limited time, should the central ice be
free from [?], may do much. That
this central ice should be free is not to be
expected but it is within the limits of
a sound probability. Therefore I have
determined as a last resource to add
the borrowed dogs to my own tired team
and by the experiment - [?]
crucis -- of the middle ice.

this will be hard, very hard, for I
must run and walk beside the sledge -
but as a last [hope?] I undertake it.
This thing over - my conscience will be
at rest and I'll fret no more. I
start tomorrow - weather or no weather.

at 5. P.M.
I called together my officers -
by which I mean the old [?] who abided
by the [?] - and [?] to them that
the progress of the work would [?] require
our sledge for some five or six days, but
that after this time I felt that I had
no conscientious right to the dogs unless
by their special consent. That the life
saving duties were superior to those of
search - although said search was [?] [?]
a paramount desire - It is best [?] to
trust to the good feeling of your associates
in any case of doubtful [?] whose
workings may effect their interests or
rights. They [?] one accord expressed

M398