"Now let us see what Sing has for breakfast, lunch, or whatever meal it may be. I have been so interested in our work the last few hours that I have paid no attention to time," said Dr. Jones. A few moments later they were seated about their dining table, and no happier company could be found in Christendom that day. "Did anyone note the time that we arrived here?" asked Will. "At 7 o'clock, 45 min., 20 sec., August 6, 19--, we located the North Pole, and planted our steel rod as marker thereof," replied Professor Gray. "What is the next thing on the program, Doctor?" asked Denison. "We will immediately set about planting our aluminum flagstaff. We are liable to a terrible storm at any moment, and might be driven away before we had accomplished that important ceremony. It would possibly be months before we should encounter so favorable a gale again. Let us not rest until we have finished all we came to do, then away for home." "It is all very well to say 'Plant the flagstaff'; but how on earth can we possibly set up a 300 foot metal pole at this extremity of the earth, without derrick, blocks and tackles, or any machinery whatever?" returned Denison. "I'll show you a Yankee trick in a short time," cried Dr. Jones. They hurried through the meal and prepared again to go out into the terribly cold atmosphere. The fireboxes were again lighted and distributed about their clothing as before. All then went out and assembled again about the rod. "I must get through this crust of ice and see what depth of snow there is below," said the Doctor. With the sharp-pointed steel rod he picked and worked several minutes, but made very little progress in the flinty ice. "Get a hammer, Denison," said he. The tool being procured, they hammered upon the upper end of the rod, and drilled as miners do in rock. After some time of this work the Doctor said: "This will never do. We have evidently a great thickness of ice to go through, possibly more than we can ever penetrate. We can do no work in these fur suits, and we should instantly freeze if we took them off. We must settle the globe upon this spot, then we shall be within the cabin and can throw off our coats and go to work. We have a big job on hand. Let's pull the ship over at once." The wind had subsided to a nearly dead calm, and it was remarkable how all nature seemed to be auspicious to the occasion. She had been forced to yield up her secrets, fast locked and frozen by the chill hand of Jack Frost so many centuries, and now seemed disposed to surrender them with a good grace. The globe was raised a few feet from the earth. Two of the anchors were carried to the opposite side of the Pole, and Will turned on the spring windlasses. Thus they easily drew the ship to the desired spot, and it was slowly settled down so that the "manhole," as they called the hole in the floor through which the cage operated, came directly over the steel rod, the rod standing precisely in the center of the manhole.