"Yes, explorers from all over Europe as well as from America have tried their hand at it," answered Barwell Dawson. "One of the books I have here tells of the various American expeditions," said Professor Jeffer, thumbing over a volume rapidly. "Ah, here it is. You ought to read it--it is very interesting." "I have read over the accounts many times,--trying to map out a route of my own," said Barwell Dawson. Then he told the boys of what had been done by various explorers to lift the mystery of the frozen north. "One of the well-known Arctic explorers was Sir John Franklin, an Englishman," said he. "Franklin was lost somewhere up north, and when he did not return, various expeditions were sent out for his relief. The first from America was that commanded by Lieutenant E. J. De Haven, of the United States Navy, in 1851. De Haven reached 78° N. He was followed, three years later, by Elisha Kent Kane, who sailed north by way of Smith Sound, and gained 80° 35' N. lat." "How far was that from the Pole?" questioned Chet, whose knowledge of degrees and latitude was rather hazy. "The highest degree is ninety, which is at the Pole," explained the professor. "Roughly speaking, a degree of latitude is equal to seventy miles." "Then Kane was still nearly seven hundred miles from the Pole." "About six hundred and fifty." "After Kane," continued Barwell Dawson, "Commodore John Rodgers commanded an expedition that went through Bering Strait and reached Herald Island, at 71° 18' N. lat. Then, in 1860, Isaac L. Hayes reached Grinnell Land, at Cape Joseph Goode, and from 1860 to 1869 Charles F. Hall explored the Cumberland Gulf, and reached the Polar Sea northwest of Greenland, in 82° 11' N." "That was crawling a little closer," was Andy's comment. "After that, explorations were made by Lieutenant P. H. Ray, Lieutenant G. A. Doane, and Commander George W. De Long, all of the government service. The latter explored the Arctic Ocean to the coast of Asia. Then followed the International Polar Expedition, under Lieutenant, afterwards General, A. W. Greely, of the United States Army. This expedition reached a point north of 83° 24'." "What about Peary?" asked Chet. "I know he is a great polar explorer." "I was going to speak of him," answered Barwell Dawson. "Commander Robert E. Peary is the greatest Polar explorer we have had. He has been at it since 1892, and during that time he has covered the entire northern portion of Greenland, the northern portion of Grinnell Land, and a goodly portion of the Arctic Ocean. On April 21, 1906, he managed to reach 87° 6' N. lat.,--within less than two hundred miles of the Pole." "It's a pity he couldn't make the two hundred miles--after going so far," was Andy's comment. "He is now fitting out another expedition," said Professor Jeffer. "I believe he will keep at it until he gains the Pole."