The gold leaf., 1909-11-04

We were in good trim to cover dis
tance economically. The sledges were
light; our bodies were thin. All the
muscles had shriveled, but the dogs
retained much Of their strength. Thus
stripped for the last lap. one horizon
after another was lifted.
In the forced effort which followed
we were frequently overheated. The
temperature was steady at A degrees
below zero F., but perspiration came
with ease and a certain amount of
pleasure. Later. however, there fol-
lowed a train of suffering for many
days. The delight of the birdskin
shirt was changed for the chill of the
wet blanket. The mittens. the boots
and the fur stockings became quite
useless until dried out,
Furs Soon Dried.
Fortunately. at this time tie sun
IVES warm enough to dry the fITs in
about three days if laslled to the sun
ny side of the sled. In these last days
we felt more keeEly the pangs Of per-
spiration than in all our earlier ad-
ventures.
The amber colored goggles were per-
sistently used. and they afforded
protection to the eyes which was quite
a revelation, but in spite of every pre-
caution our distorted. frozen. burned
and withered faces lined a map of the
hardships en- route.
we were curious looking sayages.
The perpetual glitter induced a squint
which distorted the face in a remark
able manner. The strong light reflect
ed from the crystal surface threw the
muscles about the eye into state of
chronic contraction. The pupil was
reduced to a mere pinhole.
There was no end of trouble at hand
in endeavoring to keep the windows
of the soul open. and all of the effect
was run together in a set expression
of hardship and wrinkles which should
be called the boreal squint.
Nearing the Pole.
This boreal squint is part of the
russet bronze physioSnomy which falls
to the lot Of every arctic explorer The
early winds. with piercing tempera-
ture, start flush Of scarlet. while
frequent frostbites leave figures in
black. Later the burning sun browns
the skin; subsequently strong winds
sop the moisture. harden the skin and
leave open fissures.
The hard worl. and reduced nOurish-
ment contract the muscles, dispel the
fat and leave the skin to shrivel up in
folds. The imprint of the goggles. the
set expression Of hard lines and the
mental blank of the environment have
removed all spiritual animation. We
have the color and the lines of old
russet apples and would easily pass
for prehistoric progenitors Of man.
In the enforced effort to spread out
the stiffened legs over the last reaches
there was no longer sufficient energy
at camping times to erect snow shell
ter. The silk tent was then pressed
into use.
Though the temperature was still
very low when the sun was high. its
congenial rays pierced the silk fabric
and rested softly on our brows closed
IN heavy slumber. In strong winds it
was still necessary to erect a shelter
ing wall to shield the tent.
Optical Illusions.
Signs of land were still seen every
day. but they were deceptive optical il
lusions and q mere verdict of fancy.
1t seemed that something must hap
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 to dancing horizons. The mi
RACES turned things topsy turvy. In
verted lands and queer objects ever
rose and fell in shrouds Of mystery,
but all of this was due to the atmos-
pheric magic Of the midnight sun.
With lucky series Of daily astro-
nOmical observations our position was
now accurately fixed for each stage of
progress. AS we neared the pole the
imagination quickened, and restless,
almost hysteric excitement came over
us. The boys fancied they saw beaver
and seals. and had new land under
observation frequently, but with a
change in the direction Of light or an
altered trend in our temperament the
horizon cleared and we became eager
only to push farther into the mystery
From the eighty eighth to the eighty
ninth the ice was in very large fields
and the surface was less irregular, but
in other respects it was about the
same as below the eighty-seventh. We
noticed here also an extension of the
range of vision. We seemed to see
longer distances and the ice along the
horizon had a less angular outline.
The color of the sky and the ice also
changed to deeper purple blues. We
had no way Of checking these impress
sions by other observations The
eagerness to find something unusual
may have fired the Imagination, but
since the earth is f1attened at the pole
perhaps a widened horizon should be
detected
AT S O'Clock on the morning Of April
ID we camped on picturesque old
field with convenient hummocks, to
which we could easily rise for the fire.
quent outlook which we now maintain
ed The tent was pitched The dogs
were silenced by blocks of pemmican
In us new enthusiasm was aroused by
Il liberal pot of pea soup and a few
chips of frozen meat, and then we
bathed in life giving sunbeams, screen
ed from the piercing air by silk
strands 1t was a beautiful day, and
had our sense of appreciation not been
blunted by accumulated fatigue we
would have greatly enjoyed the play
of light and color in the ever changing
scene of sparkle.
The Eskimos were soon lost in a
profound sleep. the only comfort in
their hard lives. but remained awake
as had been my habit on succeeding
days. to get nautical observations. The
longitude calculations lined US at 94
degrees ) minutes. At noon the suns
altitude was carefully Sat tho COW