366 FAMOUS LIVING AMERICANS him good-bye, Peary's last words were, *'Be careful of the leads, my boy. ' ' On March 29th, the main party overtook Bartlett's camp close beside a wide lead. In order not to disturb Bartlett, the main party camped a hundred yards distant, made their igloos as quickly as possible, ate their supper and turned in. All the next day they waited beside the open lead. On the second morning the temperature had gone down to minus 30"*, with a bitter northwest wind. The lead was dosed. They rushed across the ice and all day the whole party travelled together. The next march was to be Bartlett's last before turning back, and he did his best. The wind blew strongly from the north, full in their faces, but they struggled against it with a degree of happiness, for it was closing the leads behind, which would make it easier for Bartlett on the back trail. Peary and Bartlett walked together the last few miles. Bartlett was very sober and anxious to go farther. But the plan had been agreed upon and there were not sufficient sup- plies to increase the main party. The next morning Bartlett walked five or six miles north to make sure of reaching the 88th parallel. On his return he took an observation, getting 87** and 46' and 49", which showed that the continued north wind had drifted the ice south, thus robbing them of a few hard-earned miles. Even with his five-mile march Bartlett had missed the 88th parallel by a short distance. Though Peary would have been glad to take Bartlett on with him it was impossible. It was necessary for a supporting party to return from this i>oint. So April first Bartlett started south over the back trail. Peary together with his negro assistant, Matt Henson, and four Eskimos were left one hundred and thirty-three nautical miles from the Pole. They had five sledges and forty splendid dogs and sufficient supplies for the calculated time. Ail were in good condition and ready for the final lap of the journey. Peary selected Henson for his fellow traveler to the Pole itself because he had always accompanied the explorer to his
- ' farthest North. ' ' In addition, Henson, with years of Arctic
