t too great depth, a buoy had been provided which should be
anchored upon the polar point.

This buoy was a large hollow, aluminium globe, from which a tall steel
flag-post projected upward to a considerable height, bearing a light
weather-vane, which, when the buoy should be in its intended position,
would always point southward, no matter which way the wind might blow.
This great buoy contained various appropriate articles, which had
been hermetically sealed up in it before it left Sardis, where it was
manufactured. All the documents, books, coins, and other articles which
are usually placed in the corner-stones of important buildings were put
in this, together with the names of the persons who had gone on this
perilous expedition and those who had been its projectors and promoters.
More than this, there was an appropriate inscription deeply cut into the
metal on the upper part of the buoy, with a space left for the date of
the discovery, should it ever take place.

But the mere ceremony of anchoring a buoy at the exact position of the
pole was not enough to satisfy the conscientious ambition of Mr. Gibbs.
He had come upon this perilous voyage with the earnest intention of
doing his duty in all respects, while endeavoring to make the great
discovery of the age; and if that discovery should be made, he
believed that his country should share in the glory and in the material
advantage, whatever that might be, of the achievement. Consequently it
was his opinion that if the pole should be discovered, the discoverers
should take possession of it in the name of their country. Every one
on board--except Sarah Block, who had something to say about the
old proverb concerning the counting of chickens before they are
hatched--thought this a good idea, and when the plan was submitted to
Mr. Clewe and Mrs. Raleigh, they heartily approved.

Preparations were now made to take possession of the pole if they should
reach it on the water. On the after-part of the deck a ring about three
feet in diameter was marked, and it was arranged that when they had
ascertained, by the most accurate observations and calculations, the
exact position of the pole, they would so guide their vessel that this
ring should be as nearly as possible directly over it. Then one of the
party should step inside of the ring and take possession of the pole.
After this the buoy would be anchored, and their intended scientific
observations and explorations would pr