We continued drying our clothing in the sun and doing odd jobs to pass away time and keep from thinking. It was wearing to be held from one’s work and object so many days, and yet there were many chances yet. It was still early in the season, dogs and men were in good condition, and I could not help believing that once across this lead (the “Hudson River?”) which is undoubtedly the tidal crack between the land ice of Lincoln Sea and the central polar pack, we should have good going and little interruption from water. I had two beacons made of empty pemmican tins and placed one on the summit of Observatory Pinnacle, and the other on a high pinnacle to the west. I quote from my Journal: _April 2d._—Across the “Hudson River” at last, thank God, after a loss of seven days of fine weather. Ryan came in about nine last evening with his three men Ahngodoblaho, “Teddy” and Itukashoo. He brings a story of delay from open leads at the igloos where the Doctor turned back; again this side of cache number two, and in his last march here, which makes my men’s faces very long. The Captain was also bothered by open water and was three days getting to the cache. Ryan met him just this side. On the other hand he says from the “Dr.’s igloos” in to the land the ice has not moved, and that there was no wind in near the land on the 22d. He brought very light loads. But it all helps, and Marvin and Clark must be close behind. My impatience about the lead would not let me sleep, so at 2 A. M. I had tea ready and sent my two men to reconnoitre. They were gone a long time, and I made up my mind they could find no crossing, when they returned, and said they thought the ice would hold at a place a little west of where we had been watching it. Turned everyone out, and sent all the sledges across with light loads on each and, when they returned hurried everything else on to them and went across with everyone except Ryan and two of his men (I took the other one with me), who started right back. While the men were scouting I had written notes of instruction to Marvin, Clark, Captain, Doctor, and Ryan himself, which the last-named took back with him. With everything over Henson packed his sledges and got away at 8 A. M. My men built an igloo, double rationed their dogs, and I arranged their loads, and put what remained in a prominent cache on a hummock of the old floe on which we camped. A beautiful day but colder, and the going north appeared to be good. I hoped it was. The point of view makes a great difference. From here the broad “Hudson River” looked much fairer than it did from the other side, and looking across its shining surface to the purple shadows under the opposite ice banks, a very strong imagination might even fancy a resemblance to its namesake. CHAPTER VI FROM THE “BIG LEAD” TO 87° 6′ N. LAT.