12 THENORTHPOLE 



with the avowed intention of reaching ninety north 

 — if it were possible. Since then I have made six dif- 

 ferent attempts, in six different years, to reach the 

 coveted point. The sledging season, when such a 

 "dash" is possible, extends from about the middle of 

 February until the middle of June. Before the middle of 

 February there is not sufficient light, and after the mid- 

 dle of June there is likely to be too much open water. 



During these six former attempts made by me to 

 win the prize, the successive latitudes of 83° 52', 84° 

 17', and 87° 6' were attained, the last giving back to 

 the United States the record of "farthest north," which 

 had for a time been wrested from it by Nansen, and 

 from him in turn by the Duke of the Abruzzi. 



In writing the story of this last and successful 

 expedition, it is necessary to go back to my return 

 from the former expedition of 1905-6. Before the 

 Roosevelt entered port, and before I reached New 

 York, I was planning for another journey into the 

 North, which, if I could obtain the essential funds — 

 and retained my health — I intended to get under 

 way as soon as possible. It is a principle in physics 

 that a ponderable body moves along the line of least 

 resistance; but that principle does not seem to apply 

 to the will of man. Every obstacle which has ever 

 been placed in my way, whether physical or mental, 

 whether an open "lead" or the opposition of human 

 circumstances, has ultimately acted as a spur to the 

 determination to accomplish the fixed purpose of my 

 life — if I lived long enough. 



On my return in 1906, great encouragement was 

 received from Mr. Jesup, the president of the Peary 



