254 THENORTHPOLE 



No shadow of apprehension for the future hung 

 over that parting. It was a clear, crisp morning, the 

 sunlight glittered on the ice and snow, the dogs were 

 alert and active after their long sleep, the air blew cold 

 and fresh from the polar void, and Marvin himself, 

 though reluctant to turn back, was filled with exulta- 

 tion that he had carried the Cornell colors to a point 

 beyond the farthest north of Nansen and Abruzzi, 

 and that, with the exception of Bartlett and myself, 

 he alone of all white men had entered that exclusive 

 region which stretches beyond 86° 34' north latitude. 



I shall always be glad that Marvin marched with 

 me during those last few days. As we tramped along 

 together we had discussed the plans for his trip to Cape 

 Jesup, and his line of soundings from there northward; 

 and as he turned back to the land his mind was glowing 

 with hope for the future — the future which he was 

 destined never to know. My last words to him were: 



"Be careful of the leads, my boy!" 



So we shook hands and parted in that desolate 

 white waste, and Marvin set his face southward toward 

 his death, and I turned again northward toward the 

 Pole. 



