62 DR. COOK'S OWN STORY 



ward the ice drift began to take us rapidly and with force that caused me the 

 greatest anxiety. Still 200 miles from the pole and fourteen days the absolute 

 limit in which to conquer that distance. But from here on our troubles began 

 to diminish. 



"The ice fields became more regular. Fewer crevices, with little crushed 

 or old ice, made our progress astonishingly rapid. From the eighty-seventh to 

 the eighty-eighth latitude, much to our surprise, we found signs of land. 

 Positive evidence, however, was lacking. In fact, I knew not whether we 

 were marching on land or sea. 



"On the 14th I took another observation. Our position was shown as 

 latitude 88 degrees 21 minutes and longitude 95 degrees 52 minutes. Less 

 than 100 miles from the goal. Again the over- weary dogs were lashed into 

 action. Once more our weary legs took up the march. Less than 100 miles 

 to go, and still a quick calculation showed me enough provisions if we did it 

 in six days. 



"Our speed became a veritable race. The time was at hand for the last 

 mustering of every energy. The goal was too near to be lost now. Snow 

 shelters we gave up. We were too weary at the end of our marches to erect 

 them. Huddled together, our dogs the same, we rested when weary and 

 marched whenever possible. We tried our silk tent and found it served to 

 shelter us perceptibly from the bitter cold. I imagined that I saw signs of 

 land every day, but could not trust my senses under the strain. Onward we 

 pushed, our horizon ever monotonous, uncrossed now by cloud or indeed any- 

 thing. Mirages when the sun shone turned the world topsy-turvy. Observa- 

 tions were made at every step to guide us accurately. 



"Steadily the ice improved until we appeared to be moving almost on a 

 level glacial sea. Slower, despite frantic effort and ever growing impatience, 

 our pace again became. The terrific speed of the past hours I saw clearly 

 could not be maintained, but to try to stop my men appeared to be useless. 

 Rest had become a farce to us. Even the dogs appeared impatient at the 

 enforced stops. April 21 I stopped the party and prepared to take an observa- 

 tion. Rough calculation told me that I must be somewhere in the vicinity of 

 the point I was seeking. I found that our latitude was 89 degrees 57 minutes 

 46 seconds. The North Pole was within sight ! 



"Fourteen seconds more we advanced slowly, almost painfully. The 

 anxiety was terrible. Again, to make sure, I took an observation by the sun. 

 It was correct. Our latitude was exactly 89 degrees 58 minutes. Forward 



