Robert Walton writes to his sister, Margaret, about his journey to the North Pole. His words are filled with anticipation and wonder as he awaits what he believes will be amazing discoveries. Walton describes the never-ending sunlight, the attraction of a compass needle to the North Pole, and the chance to explore uncharted land. In his second letter, he assures Margaret he is safe and has arranged a ship and crew for his journey. Walton is both excited and afraid, not knowing what is to come but recognizing there is a good chance he will die. His only wish is that he had a friend with him to share in the joy of discovery.

In Walton’s third letter, he and his crew are at sea. They pass by massive glaciers, but nothing horrible has befallen them. Walton assures his sister he is still safe and will continue to be careful. In Walton’s fourth letter, he writes about being surrounded by ice and seeing a gigantic figure, who appeared man-like, being pulled on a sled by a pack of dogs. The sight suggests that Walton and his crew are not as far from land as they believed.

A couple of hours later, the crew finds a man named

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