300 THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTH POLE 



found it to be a long narrow fiord 50 miles in length by 

 about 2 h miles wide. 



On 16th May he again left the Lodge to search for 

 the " Iron Mountain " of Melville Bay. He took Lee with 

 him and ten dogs. On the way to Cape York an Eskimo 

 was met who undertook to act as guide to the object of 

 Peary's search. Cape York was reached in ten days, after 

 considerable difficulties. Another march brought them to 

 the meteorite, which Peary measured and photographed. 



The return journey was made under great difficulties. 

 Sometimes they were storm-bound and had to dig shelters 

 in snow-drifts, at other times they were wading through 

 deep slush ; again they were compelled to take to the 

 shore and climb the bluffs and make long detours over- 

 land. Several glaciers were crossed, and at one place 

 they were 3362 feet above sea-level. The Lodge was 

 reached on 6th June. 



On 31st July news was received that the Falcon had 

 returned. During August, Peary endeavoured to obtain 

 deer, but was not very successful. 



On 26th August the Falcon again sailed for America. 

 All Peary's party, with the exception of Lee and Henson, 

 had decided to return home. The Falcon carried them 

 safely to Philadelphia, but in returning to St. John's she 

 was lost with all on board. 



It will be most convenient here to give a brief account 

 of a sledge-journey made by Astrup after he returned 

 invalided from the ice-cap. On 6th April he started 

 out with the intention of exploring the shores of Melville 

 Bay. He took with him Koolootingwah, the Eskimo. 

 Cape York was left on the 15th April, and over 40 miles 

 were travelled the first day. Astrup found the shore, 

 from Cape York eastward, continually broken by large 

 and active glaciers. The night was passed in a snow 

 iy;loo, and next dav 30 miles were covered. On the 



