On the 8th of November there were only one hundred and ninety-three out of the two hundred and forty-six with which we had left Etah in August.

The whale meat brought for them seemed to be lacking in nutrition.
Four more that were in the worst condition were killed, to save the dog food, and on the 10th we had to kill five more.

Then we tried the experiment of feeding them on pork, with the result that seven more died.

I began to wonder whether we should have enough dogs left for the spring journey toward the Pole.
It is absolutely impossible to figure on the Eskimo dog's uncertain tenure of life.

The creatures will endure the severest hardships; they will travel and draw heavy loads on practically nothing to eat; they will live for days exposed to the wildest arctic blizzard; and then, sometimes in good weather, after an ordinary meal of apparently the best food, they will lie down and die.
On the 25th of November we again overhauled and counted the dogs.