i 4 6 PEARY CROSSES GREENLAND 



the return march began, and it is an interesting fact that on the 

 same day the "Kite" left St. John's, Newfoundland, on a relief ex- 

 pedition to bring back the exploring party, the relief party being 

 under the command of Professor Angelo Heilprin, of the Phila- 

 delphia Academy of Natural Sciences. 



Peary and Astrup crossed Greenland on their return trip with 

 no serious misadventure, their total journey being 1,300 miles in 

 length. 



As they neared their goal all superfluous baggage was cast 

 aside, the remainder being loaded on one sled, drawn by five dogs, 

 all that remained alive. As they neared the coast they saw a num- 

 ber of dark objects two miles off, seven or eight in number. Oil 

 they came, dogs and men, in a dead run down the slope, and in a 

 few minutes more the explorers found themselves among Professor 

 Heilprin's party, eagerly shaking hands and exchanging joyous 

 greetings and warm congratulations. 



The expedition above described was not the only one made by 

 Lieutenant Peary for the exploration of North Greenland. He had 

 heard the "Call of the Wild," and was no sooner back in the United 

 States than he set himself energetically to the work of collecting 

 funds for another voyage northward, to complete the tale of the 

 discoveries he had made. Most of this he earned himself, $13,000 

 of it lecturing. He spoke one hundred and sixty-eight times in 

 ninety-six days. He also earned money by letters to the New York 

 Sun, and from the proceeds of a book written by Mrs. Peary, and 

 finally finished his equipment by exhibiting his vessel, the "Falcon," 

 at various ports, charging a small price for admission. 



In June, 1893, the expedition sailed, Mrs. Peary again being 

 a member of the party. Many men desired to go with him and 

 much too large a party was taken. As a result, dissensions arose 

 and nearly all of them returned home at the end of the first year, 

 when a relief ship sought the exploring party in the north. Its 

 coming was necessary, for the "Falcon" had gone to the ocean's 



