The Mena weekly star., 1909-09-16

lptf turned to the proDleh DS.oa ma This was that for which l hnt worked for 32 years: for which nae lived inc simple life: for which hae conserved all my energy on the up ward trip; for which l had rainee myself as for a race, crushing dowr ever, worry about success.
 Tn spite of my years. felt in trim if for the demands of the coming days and eager to be on the trail.
 As for my party, my equipment. ana my supplies, was in shape beyond my most sanguine dreams of earliest years.
 My marty might be regarded as an ideal which had now come to reallza tion--as loyal and responsive to m, will as the fingers of my right hand
 PRAISES HIS MEN.
 Four of them possess the tech pione of dogs, sledges, ice ant cold as their heritage. Two ol them Hansen and Ootam. were my companions to the farthest point throe years before. Two others, Eg ,nqwnk and Sigloo. were in Clarks di vision which had such narrow es aano at that time. and now were will inc to go anywhere with my immedl ate marty and willing to risk them selves again in any supporting party
 The fifth was a young man who had never served before in any expedition hut who was, if possible, even more wi,iirg and eager than the others for inc princely gifts-a boat. rine' 3 shotgun, ammunition, knives, etc. which 1 had promised to each of them who reached the pole with me; Tor ne knew that these riches would enable him to wrest from stubborn father inc girl whose image filled his hoi young heart
 ALL FOLLOWED HIS LEAD.
 All had blind confidence so long as 1 was with them, and gave no thought for the morrow. sure that whatever happened should somehow get them back 10 land. But dealt with the party equally. recognized that all its impetus centcred in me. and that what ever pace I set 1t would make good. If anyone was played out. l would stop tor a short time.
 had no fault to find with the con ditions. My dogs were the best, the pick of 122 with which we left Coium bia. Almost ali were powerful males hard as nails, in good flesh. but with out a supertiuous ounce, without sus picion of fat anywhere; and. what was better yet, they were all in good spirits.
 My sledges, now that the repairs were completed. were in good condi- ton. My supplies were ample for 40 days, and, with the reserve represent ed by the dogs themselves could be made to last 50.
 PREPARING FOR FINAL DASH.
 Pacing back and forth in the lee of the pressure ridge where the iglooe were built. while my men got their loads ready for the next marches. settled on my program. 1 decided should strain every nerve to make five marches of 15 miles each. crowding these marches in such a wy as to bring us to the end of the iifth long enough before noon to pcrmi, the i'm. mediate taking of an observation for latitude.
 Weather and leads permitting, be. lieved could do this If my proposed distances were cut down by any chance 1 had two means in reserve for making up the deficit.
 First-To make the last march a forced one, stopping to make tea and rest the dogs. but not to sleep.
 Second-At the end Of the ffth march to make a forced march with 2 llght sledge, a double team of dops ana one or two of the party leavins the rest in camp.
 FEARFUL OF ARCTIC GALES
 Underlying all these calculation was a recognition of the ever presen, neighborhood of open leads and i'm. passable water and the knowladga that 2f-hours gale would knock eil my pans into cooked hat and even put us in imminent peril
 At lttle after midnight of April f arter lew hours of sound sleen hi, the trail, leaving the others to hrasl up camp and follow.
 As climbed the pressura r,dua pack Of our igloos set another hoIa ID my belt the third since atartod avery man and dog of us was ,aan hard anu as
 MORNING OF FINAL CHART
 It was a fine morning. The wind os .he m last two days had subsided and tne going was the best and most en, aoie oi any had had yet. The aoes were large and old, hard and olaar and were surrounded by nrassnra fldges, some of which were almost stupendous. Aose
 Lhe biggest of them, however. wara easily negotiated. either through soma creyice or up some huge brink. set q good pace for about ten hours iWenty-fiye miles took me well ha. sonu ,ne eighty-eighth parallel. W. Nh,ie l was building my igloos a "os ,ons lead formed by the east and miles. iiNe oi ieW
 BUT FEW HANDIcAPs.
 A iew hours sleep and we were nm the trail again. As tba ao,~ me'e m oi