374 NANSEN'S MEMORABLE VOYAGE IN THE "FRAM" 



5, 1895, that the "Fram" was subjected to the greatest pressure 

 experienced. The ice was now thirty feet in thickness, a fact which 

 was ascertained by boring, and immense masses of it came gliding 

 and pressing with tremendous force against the port side of the 

 ship. It piled itself up above the gunwales and high up the rigging, 

 threatening, if not to crush the imprisoned ship, at least to bury her 

 beneath its mass. Scarcely a man aboard believed she could live 

 through this terrific assault. 



All the boats were taken out on to the ice and filled with pro- 

 visions; the dogs were put in kennels also on the ice where they 

 would be free to escape if necessary, and every one was constantly 

 on the alert for the first sign of the "nip/' All hands were ready to 

 leave ship and no one was allowed to sleep unless fully clothed. 



At last it came. They were all at meals when the increased 

 uproar of the moving ice told them that the movement was nearing 

 the vessel. Then, for the first time, they heard the ominous sounds 

 of creaking timber. The "Fram" was being "nipped." 



Every one hurried out of the cabin to see to the boats and the 

 dogs and the stores. For the moment it seemed that nothing could 

 save her, and that the stupendous weight of the gliding wall would 

 soon grind her solid timbers into splinters. There was a sound of 

 rending; a groaning crash; the "Fram" shivered till the breathless 

 watchers thought they saw her spars tremble. Then, with a mighty 

 wrench, she broke from the bonds that held her, and slowly rose 

 from her nest in the ice, slipping upwards and away from the crush- 

 ing force. A cheer burst from the lips of every one as she moved, 

 for it meant not only the realization of the hopes and ideals of those 

 concerned in her construction and the complete vindication of their 

 faith in her, but also the guarantee that the explorers were safely 

 and securely housed, whatever might transpire. 



When the movement in the ice had subsided, it was found that 

 the "Fram" had slipped out of harm's way in a marvelous manner. 

 So firmly had she been frozen in that the spot from whence she had 



