PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION". 73 



an American success. Tell him in case he returns next year 

 unsuccessful, which I don't believe possible, I shall most cer- 

 tainly send another expedition following year, and continue 

 doing so until successful, but had rather victory should be his 

 than another's. Should De Long not return next year, or in 

 fact never, the widows of men belonging to expedition will be 

 protected by me. Should like him to tell this to his men upon 

 their departure." 



In the preparation for the expedition Captain De 

 Long had drawn upon his own experience, and had ap- 

 plied a knowledge derived from long and close study 

 of the details of previous Arctic voyages. His famil- 

 iarity with naval duty was supplemented by an acquain- 

 tance with all the minutiae of the expedition which he 

 commanded. He had been generously supported by 

 Mr. Bennett, and he had the authority of the Govern- 

 ment behind him. His survey of the Jeannette and 

 her equipment had left him satisfied with the result of 

 the year's work; he had confidence in his associates. 

 His only regret was that Mr. Bennett could not wish 

 them God-speed in person, and that Government had 

 failed to furnish him with a steamer to carry additional 

 supplies to St. Michael's, for this failure would inevita- 

 bly delay his final entrance into the Arctic Ocean. 



Yet the completest preparation for the expedition 

 was in Captain De Long himself. The sketch of his 

 early career, and the glimpses of his character which 

 this chapter has afforded, will give the reader some in- 

 timation of the singular qualifications which Captain De 

 Long possessed for the work which he had undertaken. 

 For years his mind had been turning to this point. His 

 native enthusiasm and spirit had urged him, and his 

 sense of a great work to be done had drawn him for- 

 ward. The experience which he had known when in 



