Algie Carlisle

Algernon 'Algie' Carlisle is the lead huntsman and geologist on the expedition as well as being in charge of the dogs.

Physical description
Algie is described as 'fat and freckled, with pale eyelashes and sandy-red hair' and has a a moustache.

Background
Algie was born sometime between 1910 and 1913 and attended a preparatory school with Gus Balfour where they became friends. They both attended Harrow and then either Oxford or Cambridge University together.

He spent six weeks in Greenland some time before the expedition on a shooting trip.

At the time of the expedition, he has a girlfriend.

Dark Matter
Algie does not want them to go ahead with the expedition without Teddy as their medic. However, he goes along with the others when they decide to continue. In Gruhuken, he hunts and irritates Jack by whistling and using a collapsible safari bath. He also collects fossils as part of his geological surveys.

He shows signs of strain from the haunting fairly early on as by 28th August Jack notes Algie ensures there is constant background noise. When Gus gets appendicitis, Algie returns to Longyearbyen with him and keeps Jack updated via telegram. He is on the boat sent to rescue Jack but does not fall into the water or get injured.

Post-expedition
After helping sort practicalities of the cut-short expedition, Algie serves in World War Two. During this he spends three years as a prisoner of war in Germany. He then enters politics. In 1947 he receives a request from Dr Murichson asking about Jack and the expedition from a monograph on phobic disorders but Algie declines to give more information.

Gus
Algie and Gus have been friends since childhood. They tend to disagree and bicker but rarely seriously until Algie shows cruelty to animals. Algie confides in Gus about feeling Gruhuken is haunted but they both keep this from Jack. After the expedition, Algie blames himself deeply for allowing Gus on the boat to rescue Jack.

Jack
They do not get along. Jack is disgusted by Algie's treatment of animals, particularly when skinning a seal and when he wants to break the huskies' teeth. After the expedition, they become friends but do not talk about Gruhuken, stopping them becoming as close.