144. PEARY CROSSES GREENLAND 



Yet he was not without hopeful glimpses. A merry twitter 

 gladdened his ear and a little snow-bunting flew overhead. And 

 the desolately barren ground was soon broken by a little patch cov- 

 ered luxuriantly with grass. Close inspection also showed traces 

 of musk oxen hairs and other indications, and finally a bleached 

 skeleton, the bones of which were broken as if by gnawing wolves. 

 Flowers, also, were soon seen, purple, white and yellow Arctic pop- 

 pies, while the snow-buntings now fluttered about in numbers. 



The hopeful explorer could not but feel that what he sought 

 must be near at hand, but his expected five miles had extended to 

 fifteen and the looked-for sea waves still remained unseen. He 

 could go no farther. His cut and lacerated feet and the distance 

 that lay behind him admonished him to return. He reached camp 

 after a heart-breaking struggle and found Astrup anxiously await- 

 ing him and prepared to serve him with all three of the deferred 

 meals of the day in one. For twenty-four hours he had been wan- 

 dering and came back worn in body, though far from sick at heart. 



Sleep revived him in body and soul, and, leaving the sledges he 

 and Astrup set out with the dogs over the same path, taking with 

 them rations for five days. Everything now looked hopeful. The 

 scent of the land so excited the animals that they could barely be 

 held in leash. The melted ice formed ponds in the glacier front which 

 broke through the soft snow banks that held them and tumbled in 

 cascades down the steep slope, forming a river at its foot. But the 

 march over the stony ground grew distressing to men and dogs 

 alike, and at length, completely worn out, they lay down for a few 

 hours of much needed rest. 



The march had not long been resumed when, as they were pick- 

 ing their way down a steep incline, two significant black spots were 

 seen in the distance. Were they boulders or musk-oxen ? A second 

 look told the tale. They moved ! They were alive ! Here was fresh 

 meat to replace the pemmican which for two months had formed 

 their chief diet. Cautiously creeping forward, Peary came within 



