Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22

in the same mood in which Esquimaux dogs
paw for their daily meal of empty tin can.
and dried fish. The four men devoured the
tutors face as he spoke. His answer was
| an epoch in the existence of these five ad-
venturers it was an era in the exploration
of the world.
"Hurry upl Have it outi How far from
the PoIe?" Royal Sterne could no longer
contain his anxiety. The Sergeant was
standing with bent head, his foot tracing a
figure on the Ice.
"Longitude 60 81 east
The next words would indicate their ad-
vance.
Latitude $50 So 21", the tutor finished
A silence fell upon the party. The Ser
geant's lips quivered. His eyes filled.
"My God! Is this true?" he demanded.
s'That is where we are"
1.-TWO hundred and forty miles higher
than that hero LOCKWOOD
eyes"
"Only about ninety-si1 miles from the
Pole itself?"
An affirmative nod answered him. The
Sergeant acted little as if his head were
dizzy. No wonder! When man almost
grasps the object of life's heroism; when
he has all but attained the unattainabie;
when he Is the first in the worlds history
to accomplish one great thing-then he is
allowed to wander for a moment; then he
is permitted to faint. 1t is the sensation of
indomitable intellect to bend before the
supreme tension.
The Sergeant uttered few unintelligible
words His companions looked at him
troubled, the tutor jumped to grasp him.
His commander drew back.
ST start for the Pole tomorrow, gentle
menP' he said.
"HurrahW
"Bully for your
"Bravor'
Sand I toop' said the tutor quietly.
"And Ip' added Royal Sterne, with q
bold look and with an eagerness that made
the Sergeant grasp him by the hand
too" exclaimed Jack Hardy" waving his
make the grand push a grand success. :"
That speech completely restored him to his
leaders favor.
''Then 1 shall be left alonel" calculated
the inventor, piteously. 81 don't see how
1 can leave her; must get her ready to re-
turn. / expect she will have to be coa1ed
like woman" He turned from the party
to his disabled machinery. 1t was not hard
to see that the inventor was broken-hearted.
"No, gentlemen! All cannot CO." replied
the Sergeant, much moved at the display of
enthusiasm. ''Mr. Ball shall accompany
me. He will make the scientific obserya-
tion, which is the true object of this ex-
pedition. Every increase in the party be-
yond the number absolutely essential is an
element of danger and of failure. Nansen's
party was made up of six. Schwatka's
great sledge journey was made with party
Of four white men. The Lockwood e1-
ploration party Of the Greedy expedition
was made up Of only three men. Our ex-
pedition to the Pole will be made up of
two. That is enoughl Prof. Wilder must
put the Aeropole in order, so that we can
return-or there will be no retnrn."
The two young men stared at the Ser
yeant when he finished speaking, then they
exchanged blank looks What did he mean
by leaving them behind? They did not
trust themselves to speak at first Dis
appointment and rage choked them.
"Sir," said Royal, with tears rising, 'I
I'm as used to this sort of travel as Mr. Ball.
came to make the whole trip and demand |
10 CO."
The Sergeant looked at Royal steadily.
"And l." spoke Jack Hardy hotly. "I |
lemand to 90. You have no right to leave