1 68 NEAREST THE POLE 



the three stragglers. I learned that Marvin and Ryan 

 and some Eskimos had left for the Greenland coast in 

 search of Clark, and that Captain Bartlett and Dr. 

 Wolf were still pegging away at the work north of 

 Hecla. I sent a messenger to recall Marvin, and 

 another with a letter to Hecla to reach Captain Bartlett 

 as soon as he arrived. 



Then to my room where I quickly ripped my rank 

 fur clothing from myself, and threw it out on the 

 quarter-deck; then to my bath. After that, my 

 dinner, a real dinner with real food such as civilised 

 men eat; and then to my blankets and to sleep, un- 

 mindful of the morrow. 



I quote from my Journal of the next day: 



What a delicious thing rest is. With Jo's picture 

 on the wall above my head, with my face buried 

 in Ahnighito's pillow of Eagle Island fir needles, and 

 its exquisitely delicious fragrance in my nostrils, I for 

 the moment echo from the bottom of my heart 

 Ootah's remark, " I have got back again, thank God! " 

 Yet I know that a little later I shall feel that I might 

 have done more and yet got back, and yet again still 

 deeper down I know that we went to the very limit 

 and that had we not got across the "big lead," when we 

 did, we should not have returned. 



Since reaching the ship I have had an aversion to 

 pencil and paper, and have only cared to lie and think 

 and plan. To think after all the preparation, the 

 experience, the effort, the strain, the chances taken, 

 and the wearing of myself and party to the last inch, 

 what a little journey it is on the map and how far short 



