HOME! 
circle around him and eagerly listened to the 
first telling of his stirring story. 
Before leaving Battle Harbor, we received 
a visit from the great missionary, Dr. Gren- 
fell, the effect of whose presence was almost 
like a benediction. 
On the morning of the 18th we left Battle 
Harbor accompanied by the tug Douglas H. 
ThomaSj amidst the salutes of the many ves- 
sels and boats in the harbor and the cannon 
on the hill. 
Through the Straits of Belle Isle we 
steamed, with a fair wind and a choppy sea. 
In the meantime I was busily engaged in 
making a strip to sew upon a large American 
flag. This was a broad white bar which was 
to extend from the upper right to the lower left 
corner of the flag, with the words ''North Pole" 
sewed on it. 
About six A. M, on the 21st, a large white, 
steam-yacht was seen approaching, flying an 
American flag from her foremast and the 
English flag from the mizzenmast. We 
were close enough to her to distinguish Mrs. 
Peary and the children on board. A boat 
was quickly lowered from the yacht and the 
186 
