Paul O’Neill XIV FOREWORD XV THE KARLUK IN THE ICE PACK “The snow formed a blanket on the ice and later on its melting and freezing cemented the ice snugly about the ship.” THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE KARLUK XVI THE DRIFT OF THE KARLUK CHAPTER I THE EXPEDITION AND ITS OBJECTS We did not all come back. [...] If land were discovered a base was to be established upon it, but if the obstruction turned out to be ice an effort was to 3 THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE KARLUK be made to follow the edge eastward with the view of making a base for the first year’s work near the southwest corner of Prince Patrick Island, or, failing that, on the west coast of Banks Island.” The Karluk was to go first to Herschel Island, [...] R. M. Anderson, who had been Stefansson’s only white companion on his previous expeditions, was to map the islands already discov- ered east of the mouth of the Mackenzie River; to make a collection of the Arctic flora and fauna; to survey the chan- nels among the islands, in the hope of establishing trade- 4 THE EXPEDITION AND ITS OBJECTS 5 THE KARLUK IN HER WHALING DAYS THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE KA [...] The skin of the polar bear makes the best sleeping robe for Arctic use and the skin of a young bear is also the best for trousers, because it will wear the longest, and furthermore, the hair will not fall out, in spite of the brush- ing and pounding you have to give it after the day’s march. [...] When Murray got ready to use the dredge he would get over the rail of the ship, which was only four feet above the surface of the ice, go to the edge of a lead and find out the depth of the water by the hand lead line; then he would lower the dredge, put the rope on his back and walk along the edge of the lead, dragging the dredge behind him.