Anything was better than sitting still. The decision to
start was a source of vast relief to Doctor Grenfell, even though it
were to venture into the face of the terrible storm and bitter cold.
Grenfell will venture anything with any man, and if those men could
face the wind and snow and cold he could.
In half an hour they were off. Before them lay the harbor of St.
Anthony, and the ice must be crossed. Through the darkness of night
and swirling snow they floundered down to it. The men were immediately
knee-deep in slush and the two teams of dogs were nearly swimming.
Their feet could not reach the solid bed of ice below. The immense
weight of snow had pushed the ice down with the falling tide and the
rising tide had flooded it.
The team from Cape Norman took the lead to break the way. Every one
put on his snowshoes, for traveling without them was impossible. One
of those with the advance team went ahead of the dogs to tramp the
path for the sledge and make the work easier for the poor animals,
while the other remained with the team to drive. In like manner Walter
tramped ahead of the rear dogs and Doctor Grenfell drove them.
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