iny, Seven Hundred

acial walls and prominent headlands give a pleasing variety. It is much like the coast of all Greenland. On its southern exposure the eroded Huronian rocks provide shelter for millions of little auks. They dart incessantly from cliff

oot of the cliffs, for the chase on sea is nearly as good here as in

dogs came out to meet us. I count the children and dogs for they are equally important in Esk

o venture out with us after big game. Mr. Bradley gathered a suitable

t was not sufficiently novel to merit a return to Olrik's Bay, where intelligent hunting is alw

tic bird, I felt a thrill in the thought that upon the skill of my arms, of my aim, and upon that of the natives we were later to join, would depend the getting of food sufficient to enable me to embark upon my dream. Everything I did now began to have some bearing upon this glorious, intoxi

ze filled the big wings of the canvas. As borne on the back of some great white bird, we soared northward into a limpid molten sea. From

row mightily within me, which I felt no obstacle could withstand, and which, later, I believe carried me forward with its wings of faith when my body well nigh refused to move. We passed Cape Alexander and entered Smith Sound. We sped by storm-chiselled cliffs, whereupon the hand of nature ha

ns of auks with baby families. And nearer, from the life enraptured waters, the minor note of softly cooing ducks and mating guillemots. From the interior land of ice, rising above the low boom

of ice, mother walrus would soothingly murmur to her babies. From invisible places came the paternal voices of the oogzook, and as we went

grottoes issued weird, echoing sounds, and almost continually rising to ringing peals and shuddering into silence, reiterant, incessant, came nature's bugle-calls-calls of the wind, of sundering glaciers, of sudden rushes of ice rivers, of expl

, had been pitched beside a small stream, just inside of the first projecting point on the north shore. Inside this point there was sheltered water for the Eskimo's kayaks, and it also made

zard life in making this attempt, we decided to

inity, as both Doctor Kane and Doctor Hayes, in the middle of the last century, had been thoroughly over the ground. The little auks kept us busy for a day after our arrival, while hares, tumbling like snowballs over wind-polished, Arch?an rocks, gave another day of g

thward. This is the northernmost settlement of the globe, a place beyond which even the hardy Eskimos att

d with gasoline and suitable food and camp equipment were l

Littleton Island, we searched for relics along Lifeboat Cove. There the Polaris was stranded in a sinking condition in 1872, with fourteen men on board

sea and air became alive with seals, walruses and birds. We di

Point, we saw a cluster of nine tent

was blocked with a jam of ice. Fortunately we were able to take our boat as far as we desired. A perpendicular cliff se

for the winter bear hunt. Their summer game catch had been very lucky. Immense quantities of meat were strewn along the shore, under mounds of stone. More t

select the best to accompany me; here, by a fortunate chance, were the best dog teams; here were plenty of furs for clothing; and here was unlimite

ng a dash for the Pole. With all conditions in my favor, might I not, by one powerful effort, achieve the thing that had haunted m

sibility. But, with all these advantages so fortunately placed in my hands, it took on a new and almost weird fasci

. He was not over-optimistic about success, but he shook my hand and wished me luck. From his yacht he v

and unload her on the rocky shore, a task not unattended with danger. However, the base had to be made somewhere hereabout, as Etah itself is

, by reason of the rewards from civilization which I could give them, such as knives, guns, ammunition, old iron, needles and matches, I could select

re concerned. It was only necessary that good health, endurable weather and workable ice should follow. The expenditure of a million dollars could n

ed on deck, so that the dangerous stop beside the rocks of Annoatok could

of Smith Sound for Annoatok. The night was cold and clear, brightened by the charm of color. The sun had just begun to dip under the northern horizon, whic

ere towed ashore. Only a few reached Annoatok itself, for the wind increased and a troublesome sea made haste a matte

safely put on shore in spite of dangerous winds and forbidding seas. That the goods were spread along the shore for a d

that it go right on with barely a halt at any other place. The departure meant a complete severance between the civilized world and myself. But I do not believe, looking

I had announced my determination many of the crew had volunteered to accompany me. Captain Bartlett himself wished to go along, but generously

h them for their assistance throughout the winter in getting ready, and then for as many as I wanted to start with me toward the uttermost North. For my white companion I selected Rudolph Francke, now one of the Arctic enthusiasts on the yacht. He had shipp

afterward the yacht moved slowly southward and faded gradually into the distant so

PARATIONS FOR

N-THE DETERMINATION TO ACHIEVE-PLANNING OUT THE DE