Dr. Grenfell’s work came with some danger. One day, he was crossing a frozen bay with a dog team. The ice began to break up under them. Grenfell and the dogs made it onto an ice pan that was moving out of the bay.
To keep from freezing, Dr. Grenfell killed three of the dogs. He then wrapped himself in the skins of the dogs. Grenfell spent the night huddled with the other dogs to survive the cold.
In the morning, Dr. Grenfell made up a pole by lashing the leg bones of the dead dogs. He fastened his shirt to the pole as a flag. Grenfell waved this flag to get attention. The flag was seen and Grenfell was rescued.