CHAPTER II, 
On the 12tli of May, while bathing in the tepid 
waters of the Gulf of Mexico, I received one of those 
courteous little epistles from Washington which the 
electric telegraph has made so familiar to naval offi- 
cers. It detached me from the coast survey, and or- 
dered me to " proceed forthwith to New York, for duty 
upon the Arctic Expedition." 
Seven and a half days later, I had accomplished my 
overland journey of thirteen hundred miles, and in 
forty hours more our squadron was beyond the limits 
of the United States : the Department had calculated 
my traveling time to a nicety. 
During the fraction of a day that was left me at 
New York, I strove assiduously to secure a few imple- 
ments for scientific observation, as well as to get to- 
gether the elements of an Arctic wardrobe. I had, of 
course, the zealous aid of Mr. Grinnell in these hurried 
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