182 ADVENTURES IN THE NORTHERN SEAS. 



of dogs, and the pace at which men can drag a heavy 

 sledge is so slow that they can not convey a suffi- 

 ciency of fuel and provisions for a long journey, 

 and Parry's men were consequently upon short al- 

 lowance from the commencement of their arduous 

 labors. 



In spite of these tremendous disadvantages, how- 

 ever, the gallant Parry and his crews persevered for 

 more than a month, and actually attained the lati- 

 tude of 82° 40', which decidedly entitles them to the 

 well-earned distinction of being the "Champions of 

 the North." On the 27th of July, however, their 

 solar observations gave them the most dishearten- 

 ing proofs that they were only making the sort of 

 progress that a squirrel makes in a cage, or a horse 

 in one of those ingenious saw-mills used at the rail- 

 way stations in America ; for while, during the last 

 three days, with incredible labor, they had gone 

 about ten miles to the front, the Arctic current had 

 driven the ice fourteen miles to the rear underneath 

 their feet! At this rate of traveling, it is capable 

 of demonstration that they would have reached the 

 south pole sooner than the north, and Parry was 

 therefore obliged — but one can well understand 

 with what heartfelt reluctance he did so — to give 

 it up. 



I believe, however, that that distinguished navi- 

 gator always maintained, to the last day of his life, 

 that it was perfectly possible to make a sledge ex- 

 pedition to the north pole successfully. 



