Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-10-22

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longer distances and the fee along the
horizon bad 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 Ell.
gerness TO find something unusual may
have fred the Imagination. bur since
the earth Is fiattened mt the pole per
haps a widened horizon should be de
tected-
At 8 O'Clock on the morning OF April
10 we camped on a picturesque old
Geld with convenient hummocks. to
which we could easiiy rise for the fire.
Quent outlook which we now maintain.
ed. The tent was pitched. The dogs
were sllenced by blocks of pemmican.
IN us new enthusiasm was aroused by
liberal pot OF pea soup and few
chips OF frozen meat. and then we
bathed In life giving sunbea ms. screen
ed from the piercing air by silk
strands. It 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 I'm the ever changing
| scene Of sparkle.
The Eskimos were soon lost I'm pro.
found sleep. the only comfort in their
hard lives. but I remained awake. aS
had been my habit on succeeding days.
to get nautical observations. The Ion
! gitude calculations lined us at 81 de-
grees 3 minutes. At noon the suns al
t!tude was carefully set on the sextant.
and the latitude quickly reduced gave
50 degrees 81 minutes-twenty-nin
miles from the pole.
|. My heart jumped for Joy. and the un-
conscious commotion which I was Gre
ating Weakened Etukishuk. told him
that IN two average marches we would
reach the ''tigi shu" (the big naiD.
| Ahwelah was awakened with q kick.
mock and through glasses sought for
mark to locate so important a PLACE
as the terrestrial axis IL but Que
sleep beyond IL must be seen,
tried to explain that the pole was
not visible 10 the eye: that its position
was located only by q repeated use Of
the various Instruments. This entirely
satisfied their curiosity. and they burst
out In hurrahs OF Joy. For two hours
they chanted and danced the passions
| OF wild life.
IL was the first real sign OF pleasure
or rational emotion which they had
shown for several weeks. For some
time I had entertained the fear tina {
we no longer possessed the strength to
return 10 land. but the unbridled flow
OF vigor dispelled that idea.
More sleep was quite impossible. We
brewed an extra pot Of tea. prepared Il
favorite broth OF pemmican. dug up n
surprise OF fancy biscuits and filled up
lowance for our final feast days. The
dogs. which had Joined the chorus OF
gladness. were given an extra lump OF
pemmican. few hours more were
agreeably spent I'm the tent. and then
we started with new spirit for the
uttermost north.
We were excited TO a fever heat
The feet were light ON this run Even
the dogs caught the infectious enthusi-
asm and rushed along Mt pace which
made II difficult for me TO keep sutii-
Gent advance to set q good course.
The horizon was still searched for
| something to mark the approaching
boreal center. but nothing unusual was
seen. IL was the same expanse or
moving seas OF ice on which we had
lived for 300 miles.
But, looking through gladdened eyes.
the scene assumed o new glory. There
were plains Of gold fenced in purple
walls. with gilded crests. IL was one
Of the few days on the stormy pack
when all nature smiled with cheering
lights.
As the day advanced and the splen.
dor OF summer night was run into the
continued day the beams OF gold on
the surface SHOWS thickened. while the
shadows OF hummocks and ridges
spread line OF violet barriers through
which way must be sought.
From my position a few hu ndred
yards ahead OF the sleds could not
resist the temptation To turn frequently
to see the movement of the dog train
with its new fire. In this direction
the color scheme was reversed. The
Icy walls were In gold and burning col.
srs. while the plains represented every
shade OF purple and blue.
Through this sea OF color the dogs
came With a spirited tread. noses down.
tails up and shoulders braced to the
straps like chariot horses. The young
Eskimos. chanting songs OF love, came
with easy step. THE long whip was
swung With brisk crack. and all over
there rose a cloud Of frosted breath.
Camp was pitched early In the morn.
Ing OF April 20. The sun was north
sasts the pack giowed I'm tones OF lilac;
the normal westerly air of shfvers
brushed onr frosty faces The surpris.
Ing burst OF enthusiasm had been
nnrsed to IDS limit. and under it a long
march was made over average ice
With the usual result of overbea ring
fatigue. Zoo tired and sleepy TO wait
Tor cup OF tea. melted SHOWS were
poured down. and the psmmIcan was
pounded with the AK to case the task
or the jaws. The eyes closed before
the meal was finished. and the world
was lost to us for eight hours. The
observation gave latitude SO degrees
46.5 minutes. longitude 81 degrees SO
minutes.
With the boys singing and the dogs
bowling we started or after midnight
on April p. The dogs looked large
and noble as they came along that
day. while Etukishuk and Ahwelah.
afa.l