On the same day we began in real earnest to make ready for the homeward departure.
The work began with the taking on of coal, which, it will be remembered, had been transferred to shore along with quantities of other supplies when we went into winter quarters, in order to make provisions against the loss of the ship by fire, or ice pressure, or what not, in the course of the winter.

The process of getting the ship ready for her homeward voyage does not require detailed description.

Suffice it to say that it furnished the entire party with hard work and plenty of it for fully ten days.
At the expiration of that period Bartlett reported the ship ready to sail.

Observation of conditions off shore revealed the fact that Robeson Channel was practicable for navigation.

Our work was done, success had crowned our efforts, the ship was ready, we were all fit, and on July 18, with only the tragic memory of the lost lamented Marvin to lessen our high spirits, the _Roosevelt_ pulled slowly out from the cape and turned her nose again to the south.
Off Cape Union the _Roosevelt_ was intentionally forced out into the ice to fight a way down the center of the channel in accordance with my deliberate program.
For a ship of the _Roosevelt's_ class, this is the best and quickest return route--far preferable to hugging the shore.
The voyage to Battle Harbor was comparatively uneventful.