PEARY'S EXPEDITION (1909) 319 



had shown great eagerness for the work. Forty of the 

 best dogs were selected, and five of the best sledges. 

 The supplies were ample for forty days, and Peary 

 believed that with the dogs he could make them last 

 fifty days more. 



A determined effort was now to be made to reach the 

 Pole. Durina; the first march of ten hours 25 miles were 

 covered, and after a few hours' 1 sleep another march of 

 ten hours covered other 20 miles. Again a few hours 1 

 sleep, and a further march of 20 miles brought the party 

 within sight of latitude 89°. The temperature at this 

 time was 40° F. below zero. After a short sleep, the 

 fourth march was made against a bitter wind, and the 

 distance covered was estimated to be at least 25 miles. 

 The party were now getting much fatigued, and it was 

 found necessary to take a longer sleep before beginning 

 the fifth march. 



During these four marches the weather had been 

 brilliant, but with the fifth it changed to a dense pall 

 overhead, and the ice beneath was a ghastly white with 

 no relief. The surface, however, was even better than 

 before ; there was scarcely any snow on the old Hoes, and 

 a rise of temperature to 15° F. below zero reduced the 

 friction of the sledges. In twelve hours no less than 

 40 miles were covered without a sign of a lead. A hasty 

 noon observation was now made, and the latitude was 

 found to be within 3 geographical miles of the Pole. 

 Thirty hours were spent in making observations, in going 

 some 10 miles beyond the camp and about 8 miles to the 

 right of it. Flags were planted, photographs were taken, 

 and the horizon was carefully searched through the 

 telescope for possible land. The minimum temperature 

 during the thirty hours was 33° F., and the maximum 

 12° F. below zero. 



Peary had now at last reached the goal of his ambition — 



