"On the second of November," says Peary, "the wind freshened up to a gale from north by west, lowered the thermometer before midnight to 5 degrees, whereas, a rise of wind at Melville Island was generally accompanied by a simultaneous rise in the thermometer at low temperatures.

May not this," he asks, "be occasioned by the wind blowing over an open sea in the quarter from which the wind blows?
And tend to confirm the opinion that at or near the Pole an open sea exists ?") We both frankly admitted that we were very hungry, and forthwith I prepared a substantial meal from our well-stored larder.

When we had partaken heartily of the repast, I told my father I believed I would sleep, as I was beginning to feel quite drowsy.

"Very well," he replied, "I will keep the watch." I have no way to determine how long I slept; I only know that I was rudely awakened by a terrible commotion of the sloop.

To my surprise, I found my father sleeping soundly.