EARLY YEARS 
This lead or lane of open water I have since 
become more familiarly acquainted with. We 
have called it many names, but it is popularly 
known as the "Big Lead." Going north, 
meeting it can be depended upon. It is situ- 
ated just a few miles north of the 84th paral- 
lel, and is believed to mark the continental 
shelf of the land masses in the Northern Hem- 
isphere. 
During the four years from 1898 to 1902, 
which were continuously spent in the regions 
about North Greenland, we had every experi- 
ence, except death, that had ever fallen to the 
lot of the explorers who had preceded us, and 
more than once we looked death squarely in 
the face. Besides, we had many experiences 
that earlier explorers did not meet. In Jan- 
uary, 1899, Commander Peary froze his feet 
so badly that all but one of his toes fell 
off. 
After the return home, in 1902, it was three 
years before Commander Peary made another 
attack on the Pole, but during those years he 
was not resting. 
He was preparing to launch his final and 
"sincerely to be hoped" successful expedition, 
12 
