Page:The frozen North; an account of Arctic exploration for use in schools (IA frozennorthaccou00hort).pdf/181

 The ridges corresponding to hills on land were not as hard to pass over as were the leads of water which Peary had met with before during the journey.

With weather in their favor the party made great progress. In one march of twelve hours thirty miles were covered. As they neared the Pole, the wind grew bitterly cold. Even the Eskimos complained of it, and said that their noses would freeze. This was unusual, for the nose of an Eskimo is supposed to be so hardy that no frosty winds could freeze it. But all soon forgot the cold in their joy in drawing near the Pole.

On April 6, 1909, at ten the last march ended, and Peary found by his observations that he had arrived at 89° 57´ north latitude. Here the party camped, and Peary called the place Camp Morris K. Jesup in honor of the man who had done so much to further discoveries in the Arctic regions.

From Camp Jesup, Peary traveled on about ten miles beyond the Pole, crossing and recrossing in several directions over a radius of ten miles. Strange were his feelings when he stood at the place where north, east, and west were eliminated, and every direction was south. He was also at a place where there is in the year but one night and one day, each six months in length. The stars circle round overhead during the night and the sun during the day.

As far as the eye could reach was a vast, white expanse of ice. No living creature was to be seen, no sign of life anywhere, only a great silence, a great whiteness, and dazzling sunlight. Peary placed the American flag in the ice. The Eskimos and Henson gave three cheers, and all shook hands.

The Eskimos did not understand what made Peary so happy, but they did know that he had succeeded in reach