The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-09-16

but who was, if possible, even more.
willing and eager than the others for
the princely gifts--a boat, rifle, a.
shotgun, ammunition, knives, etc.,
which had promised to each of them,
who reached the pole with me; for he
knew that these riches would enable
him to wrest from a stubborn father
the girl whose image filled his hot
young heart
ALL FOLLOWED HIS LEAD.
All had blind confidence so long as
/ was with them, and gave no thought
for the morrow, sure that whatever
happened | should somehow get them
| back to land. But I dealt with the
party equally l recognized that all its
( impetus centered in me, and that what
ever pace l set it would make good. II
anyone was played out, I would stop
| for short time.
/ had no fault to find with the con-
ditions. My dogs were the best, the
pick of 122 with which we left Column
bia. Almost all were powerful males.
hard as nails, in good flesh, but with
out superfuous 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 SO.
PREPARING FOR FINAL DASH.
Pacing back and forth in the lee of
the pressure ridge where the igloos
were built, while my men got their
loads ready for the next marches, [
settled on my program. l decided |
should strain every nerve to make five
marches of Is miles each, crowding
these marches in such a way as to
bring us to the end of the fifth long
enough before noon to permit the i'm
mediate taking of an observation for
latitude.
Weather and leads permitting, be-
lieved l could do this. If my proposed
distances were cut down by any
chance 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 fifth
inarch TO make forced march with a
ilght sledge. double team of dogs.
and one or two OF the party, leaving
the rest in camp.
FEARFUL OF ARCTIC GALES.
Underlying all these calculations
was a recognition of the ever present
heighborhood Of open leads and i'm.
passable water. and the knowledge
that 24-hours gale would knock all
my plans into a cooked hat. ard even
put us in imminent peril.
AT little after midnight of Anri,
after few hours of sound sleep. hit
the trail, leaving the others to break
up camp and follow.
AS l climbed the pressure ridge
back of our igloos set another hole.
In my belt, the third since I started,
EVERY man and dog OF us was lean
and fiat bellied as a board and as
hard.
MORNING OF FINAL START.
~ "''S - ii'S Inc wind nfi
the last two days had subsidized and
the going was the best and most em,..
able OF any had had yet. The foes
were large and old. hard and clear.
ana were surrounded by pressure,
ridges, some OF which were almost
stupendous.
The biggest OF them. however, were
easily negotiated. either through some
creylce or up some huge brink. l set
good pace for about ten hours.
twenty-five miles took me well be-
yond the eighty'eighth parallel.
While was building my igloos a
long lead formed by the east and
southwest of us at distance of a few
miles.
Continued in our next issuel