THE FINAL SPURT BEGUN At this time it may be appropriate to say a word regarding my reasons for selecting Henson as my fellow traveler to the Pole itself.

In this selection I acted exactly as I have done on all my expeditions for the last fifteen years.

He has in those years always been with me at my point farthest north.

Moreover, Henson was the best man I had with me for this kind of work, with the exception of the Eskimos, who, with their racial inheritance of ice technic and their ability to handle sledges and dogs, were more necessary to me, as members of my own individual party, than any white man could have been.

Of course they could not lead, but they could follow and drive dogs better than any white man.
Henson, with his years of arctic experience, was almost as skilful at this work as an Eskimo.