Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/390

 BOBEBT E. PEABY 367 experience^ was almost as skilful as an Eskimo with dogs and sledges. The two divisions now left pushed forward. Even the Eskimos were eager and interested. The weather was favor- able, and on April fourth they travelled ten hours and twenty- five miles were covered. The bitter wind burned their faces so they cracked. The Eskimos complained of their noses, which Peary had never heard them do before. At the camp, on April fifth, the party took more sleep than for several days. But before midnight of the fifth they started on the fifth march, which Peary had calculated in advance would bring them to the goal. This last march ended at ten o'clock on the forenoon of April sixth. They went into camp and Peary made an ob- servation which indicated their position as 89** and 57'. They were at the end of their long journey, yet, with the Pole act- uaUy in sight, Peary was too weary with the accumulated wear- iness of all those days and nights of forced marches to take the last few steps. As soon as the igloos were completed, dinner was eaten, the dogs double rationed, and Peary turned in. Weary though he was, he awoke a few hours later. The first thing he did on awaking was to write in his diary, and goal for twenty years. Mine at last I I cannot bring my- self to realize it. It seems all so simple and commonplace. ' ' Then a light sledge was made ready, carrying only the in- struments for an observation, a tin of pemmican and one or two skins. The party travelled an estimated distance of ten miles and secured a series of observations indicating that their position was beyond the Pole. During the last few hours they had passed from the eastern to the western hemisphere across the summit of the world. To reach camp they must go north again for a few miles and then south, though all the time travelling in the same direction. There were some ceremonies connected with the arrival at their difficult destination. Five flags were planted at the top of the world. The first one was a silk American flag given by Mrs. Peary fifteen years before and worn by Peary wrapped
 * * The Pole at last. The prize of three centuries. My dream