Page:The frozen North; an account of Arctic exploration for use in schools (IA frozennorthaccou00hort).pdf/177

 for their strength and endurance. From among them Peary selected his company; here, also, he procured many fine dogs, without whose help and service the Pole could not have been reached.

The Roosevelt steamed northward from Etah, pushing her way through the ice pack towards Cape Sheridan, on the northern coast of Grant Land. During the trip the Eskimo men were put to work making sledges and harness, and the women began to make winter garments for the men. There was much sewing to be done, for the white men wore in winter just the same kind of clothing that the Eskimos did.

McMillan, Borup, and Dr. Goodsell found amusement in watching the women at their sewing. Sitting on the ground or whatever is nearest, they take off their footgear and put out one foot. Then holding one end of the material between their toes, using the foot as a third hand, they sew the seam away from them, instead of toward them as our women do. It looked odd enough, but the spectators had to admit that the work was done well. The Eskimos sewed the furs and skins together so closely and skillfully that the cold could not creep through.

These industrious women made stockings and mittens of fur, boots of skins, trousers of skins of the polar bear, jackets of deer or fox skin, and hoods of fur, finished around the face with thick rolls of foxtails.

All were happy and comfortable for a while, but as they advanced the ice became thicker and the ship was in great danger. It took all Peary's knowledge of the coast, and all Bartlett's skill in navigation, to keep the Roosevelt from being crushed in the ice.

Every person on board, both whites and Eskimos, tied his most necessary belongings into a bundle and stood