CHAPTER XXVII 



GOOD BY TO MARVIN 



UP to this time no observations had been 

 taken. The altitude of the sun had been 

 so low as to make observations unreliable. 

 Moreover, we were traveling at a good clip, and the 

 mean estimate of Bartlett, Marvin, and myself, based 

 on our previous ice experience, was sufficient for dead 

 reckoning. Now, a clear, calm day, with the tempera- 

 ture not lower than minus forty, made a checking of our 

 dead reckoning seem desirable. So I had the Eskimos 

 build a wind shelter of snow, in order that Marvin 

 might take a meridian altitude for latitude. I intended 

 that Marvin should take all the observations up to 

 his farthest, and Bartlett all beyond that to his farthest. 

 This was partly to save my eyes, but principally to 

 have independent observations with which to check 

 our advance. 



The mercury of the artificial horizon was thoroughly 

 warmed in the igloo; a semi-circular wind-guard of 

 snow blocks two tiers high was put up, opening 

 to the south; a musk-ox skin was laid upon the 

 snow inside this; my special instrument box was 

 placed at the south end and firmly bedded into the 

 snow in a level position; the artificial horizon trough, 

 especially devised for this kind of work, was placed 

 on top and the mercury poured into it until it was 



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