Henry Parish, Anton A.Raven, Herbert L.Bridgman--the "Old Guard" of the Club--who had stood shoulder to shoulder with Mr.Jesup from the inception of the organization, stood firm now to keep the organization of the Club intact; other men came forward, and the crisis was past.

But the money still came hard.

It was the subject of my every waking thought; and even in sleep it would not let me rest, but followed with mocking and elusive dreams.

It was a dogged, dull, desperate time, with the hopes of my whole life rising and falling day by day.
Then came an unexpected rift in the clouds, the receipt of a very friendly letter from Mr.Zenas Crane, the great paper manufacturer, of Massachusetts, who had contributed to a previous expedition, but whom I had never met.

Mr.Crane wrote that he was deeply interested; that the project was one which should have the support of every one who cared for big things and for the prestige of the country, and he asked me to come to see him, if I could make it convenient.