The globe was lowered down the mast for the last time. Denison and Will ran out and loosened the anchors Slowly the ship then glided up the beautiful mast. The flag, which had been wrapped about the small upper end of the staff to prevent injury being done it while passing through the tube, was shaken out at the moment it left the floor of the engine-room. Its fastenings to the peak had been made doubly secure, and it was tenderly manipulated through the final opening by loving hands. The whole company involuntarily shouted at the inspiring sight. The ship was lowered as it moved away, and the patriotic voyagers were treated to a side view of the most beautiful, thrilling sight upon earth—the American flag flying at the North Pole at the peak of the loftiest flagstaff ever erected! Well might their hearts swell with pride and their voices break forth in songs of triumph and praise. The Star Spangled Banner! Emblem of Liberty! How exquisitely meet that it should be thus planted forever at the summit of the earth, a terror to tyrants, and a never-failing beacon of Light and Freedom to all people of the world!
The Professor pointed out certain conformations of the mountain's summit, and said: "This island is of volcanic formation, and this mountain an extinct volcano. Yonder flagstaff stands upon the center of a crater that has been filled with many centuries of ice and snow. At some future time I hope to return prepared to penetrate this coat of mail and determine, if possible, whether Summit Island has ever been the habitat of any form of life, animal or vegetable."
Professor Gray had made such observations by the aid of instruments as should be of interest to science. This he did while the others were sinking the ice shaft, and during the time of the photographing of the star.
They were straining their eyes from the observatory to catch the last glimpse of "Old Glory," when a sudden storm gathered about the island, and it was shut out from view. They involuntarily cast their eyes up to its former place, and they realized that Silver Cloud had been dismantled of her chief beauty and glory.
"This will never do," exclaimed Dr. Jones. "Silver Cloud is like a bird of paradise with its tail feathers all plucked. We must replace that pole and flag as soon as we return to Washington."
"It seems like a cruelty to leave them in such a fearful place," said Mrs. Jones. "Think of the awful storms that will gather and howl around them for ages."
"They will outlast them all, praise God!" replied the Doctor. "As a 'Government of the people, for the people, and by the people shall not perish from the earth,' so shall our flag and staff defy all the Arctic storms that ever blew."
Then they descended to the cabin.
"I think it is about time to see which way we are heading," said the Professor. "We are pointing straight for Alaska, as nearly as I can judge," he said a few moments later.
All retired but Dr. Jones. He said that he really preferred to sit and rest awhile before going to bed. So he sat for several hours, looking occasionally at the barometer, thermometer, etc. Toward morning he called Denison to "take the helm," as he jocosely termed it.