The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-10-18
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Ing wall to shield the tent.

Ing wall to shield the tent.
Si.lS Of land were still seen evers
day. but they were deceptive optical il
Iuslons and mere verdict Of fancy
Ii seemed that Somerhiua diL-o nap
pen. some line must cross our horizon,
TO mark the important area into which
we were pressing
When the sun WAS low the eye ran
over moving plains in brilliant waves
OF color 10 dancing horizuns The mi
RACES turned things topsy turvy. In
Verted lands and queer objects ever
rose and fell in ShrnudS of mystery.
but all OF this was due 10 the atmos-
pheric magic OF the midnight sun.
With a lucky series OF daily aStru-
/ nomical observations cur position was
now accurately fixed for each stage or
. progress. AS we neared the pole tn.
Imagination quckencd. and restless.
almost hysteric excitement came over
us. The boys fancied they SAW beaver
and seals and had a new Iand under
observation frequently. bu; with a
change in the direction of light or an
altered trend in our temperament the
horizon cleared and We tecainr r;iger
only 10 push farther into the mystery.
= From the eight y-eighth TO the eighty
. ninth the ice was In very large fields
and the surface was less irregular. but
I'm other respects il WAS about the
same rs below the cghty-seventh. We
noticed here also an extension OF tia
! range of vision. We seemed to So"
q longer distances and the ice along the
5 horizon had Il less angular outline.
e The color nf he sky and the ice also
f changed to decprr purple blues. We
l. had no way Of checking these impress
Y SinnS by other observations. The -
II eerness 10 find something unusual may
e nave fired the ina ginatlon, but since
the earth is fattcued ut the pole per
Ii hays Il widcurd horizon should be ti4
IN tec;ed,
u At 3 O'clock on the morning Of April
IS 10 we campcd on q picturesque Old
r field with convenient hummociIS, "a
ID which we could easily rise for the fire.
ouent oMtionl. which we now maintain
= ed. The tent Was pitched. The dogs
q were siIenced by blocks of pemmican.
tie In us new enthusiasm was aroused 5v
e. liberal POT of pea soup and few
cd chips of frozen meat, and then wee
be bathed in Mt Giving scHheAns, screen
Cd frvm the piercing air by sils
Is strands 1t was a beautiful day. and
int had our sense Of appreciation not been
rk- blunted by accumulated fatigue we
ct would have greatly enjoyed the play
he Of light and coior in The ever changing
Of scene Of sparkle.
as The Eskinos were soon lost in pro
found sleep. he only comfort Ia theil
nd hard lives, but | remained awake, a.
VS. had been my habit on succeeding days
nct to get nautical observations. The lon
ion gitrde calculations lined US at "a de
aid grees = minutes. At noon the suns al
titude was carefully set on the sextant
he and the latitude quickly reduced gave
Ills 80 degrees 81 minutes-twenty-nine
he miles from the pole.
ro NV heart jumped for joy. and the IN
lilo conscious con,mctinn which was ere
ating awakened Etuklsiiuk. / told hin
that in two average marches we woul'
reach the 'tigi shu'' the big naill,
Ahwelah was awakened with kick
and together they went out to hum
mock and through glasses sought fc
mark to locate so important a piac
as the terrestrial axis. II but on
sleep beyond it must be seen.
tried to explain that the pole wa
not visible to the eye; that its position
l was located only by 4 repeated use O
l the various instruments. This entirel
| satisfied their curiosity. and they burs
! out in hnrrahs of JOY. For two hour
Al they chan,ed and danced the passion
sI Of wild life.
III II was he FIRST real sign Of pleasur
II or rational emotion which they ha
1 shown for several weeks. For som
time | had entertained the fear tha
We no longer possessed the strength I
return 10 nnd. but the unhridled io
Of vigor dispclled thar idea.
More steep was quite impossible. "
bsewe4I an extra pot of tea. prepared
farorite broth of pemmican. dug UP
surprise of fancy biscuits and filled U
Oh good Things to the limit Of the a
l0wance fer our fjna. feast days. IT
in dogs. which had joined the rhorns
Wits giadues>. were given an extra lump
ndS De,D,nican \ few hours mure we
and asree.ibly spent in the tent. and the
we started with new spirit for Il
'i>h- uttcrmnSt north.
Tie We were excited 70 q fever hea
y III The feet were light nL this run. Eve
The the dogs caught the Infectious enthu
the assn and rushed along at i pace whit
nav" nlatir it difficult for me to keep Il srI!
We cieut a..canrp 10 set q good cour'
nt'! The horizon was skill searched /
pass something 10 mark the approachi
boreal center. bur unthiEl unusual W
Oh; seen. liz wis the Sarn" expanSe
ch'>> .nnving seas of ice on which We b
cry lived for 800 miles.
Size. But. looking through giaddened ey'
into the scene assumed Il new glory. ibe
WAS were plains of gold fenced in purl
l. liz walls. with giided crestS- 1t was o
lbr'' of the few days. Oh the stormy pa
n'rt when all nature smiled with cheeri
ds /.
liter Continued on page S.