It was wonderful what a difference reaching the Pole made in them. All the hardships of the past weeks were forgotten, and even the men acted like schoolboys out for a holiday. They walked around the vicinity of the _igloo_, and sang and whistled, and for once completely forgot their hunger. Then, during the course of the afternoon, Professor Jeffer took more observations and a number of photographs. The next day the sun continued to shine brightly, and promptly at noon another observation was made. This gave the same result as before, so all were assured that they were really at the 90th degree of north latitude. "We must be at the North Pole," said Andy. "For see, while we call one part of the twenty-four hours day and the other night, the sun goes right around us and never seems to rise or sink." "Yes, that is something of a test," answered Professor Jeffer. "But it is not as infallible as that made by the sextant. The earth is more or less flat here, and that makes a difference." To make "dead certain" that they had covered the North Pole, the entire party journeyed five miles further ahead, and also an equal distance to the right and left. At one point they saw traces of another exploring party, but the snow and ice had covered up the records left behind. "And now to get back," said Barwell Dawson, at the close of the third day spent at and around the Pole. "We have no time to spare, if we want to get out of this land of desolation before winter sets in again." "I am ready," answered Professor Jeffer. "I have taken all the observations and photographs I wish, and have collected a valuable amount of data." "You can't get back any too quick for me," said Chet, dryly. "There is no use in disguising the fact that our provisions are very low," continued Barwell Dawson, gravely. "We have very little left for the dogs." "What will you do with them?" asked Chet. "One is a little lame. If the worst comes to the worst, we'll kill him and feed him to the others." They left the _igloo_ standing, and on the top placed a metallic box containing a brief record of their trip. Then they took down the flag and placed it on the sledge. They started on the return at seven in the morning. The weather was not so cold as it had been, and going seemed to be better, so they covered the twenty-two miles to their old camp without much difficulty. Here they had to repair the sledge again, and also had to kill off the lame dog. This made a feast for the others, and gave them some food that was much needed. "I could almost eat dog meat myself," said Chet. "It may come to that," answered Andy. "I guess it is a heap better than nothing, when a chap is starving." They found the new ice on the lead much thicker than it had been, and so crossed with ease. But now came on a heavy fall of snow, and all traces of their former trail were wiped out. "We'll have to steer by eyesight and the compass," announced Barwell Dawson.