It is very dangerous on the Arctic Ocean; once Borup's sled started to slide into ocean, his dogs were in the water but he was strong enough to pull the sled back and save his dogs. The sled was so heavy it would have dragged the dogs to the bottom of the sea! When camping with Captain Bartlett the ice split open in the middle of camp while they slept. Matt and Peary had to rescue him when his igloo was stranded on a big piece of ice in the water. Another time Matt fell in and would have drown but Seegloo saved him. Eskimos claimed Marvin fell in the ocean and drowned. Years later one of them confessed he shot Marvin over an argument.

The final assault team was comprised of Henson & Peary with Ootah, Ooqueah, Seegloo, and Egingwah. When all the others had done their work and built the igloos, made the trail, and exhausted themselves, they went back to land. Only Matt, Peary, 4 Eskimos and 40 dogs went the last 133 nautical miles to the Pole.

On the return it was fast & easy because there was a trail to follow made by all the other sleds that had gone back and forth. Also, they threw most of the weight off their sleds. The dogs were excited to be going home and *ran faster (they were scared out on the dangerous Arctic Ocean ice). There was a strong wind from behind them that helped, too. They did not have to waste time making a shelter each day, because there were camps set up and waiting stocked with food and fuel for the stoves. The plan worked! That is how they did it.