NANSEN'S MEMORABLE VOYAGE IN THE "FRAM" 377 



kayaks and twenty-eight dogs, the quantity of provisions being con- 

 siderably reduced. The "Fram" had now reached the eighty-fourth 

 parallel of latitude, the highest northing so far made, and the route 

 of the adventurers lay along the one hundredth parallel of east 

 longitude. 



For the first few days traveling was slow, heavy, and laborious, 

 the ice being rough and rugged. But it grew smoother as they 

 advanced, and always, at the end of each period of travel when they 

 formed their camp, the Pole was nearer. On March 22d they 

 reached 85 degrees 10 minutes north latitude. The ice they were 

 journeying over now was not only rough but was constantly 

 moving, the drift being against them. But still they pushed north- 

 ward and on the 29th reached the latitude of 85 degrees 30 minutes. 



Progress now became slow, the southward drift growing 

 stronger while the ice grew very rough. The labor was severe, the 

 ice being piled up in ridges and hummocks, over which the heavy 

 sledges had to be drawn. In these cases the dogs were of no assist- 

 ance, they patiently resting until the obstacle was passed, and then 

 drawing the sledges over a short stretch of level ice until a new 

 ridge was reached. On April 7th they were at 86 degrees 14 min- 

 utes north latitude, the highest northern point attained by man up 

 to that time, and only about two hundred miles from the Pole. 



It was unsafe to venture farther. If they should meet equal 

 obstacles on their return they would have great difficulty in reach- 

 ing the nearest land. This was Franz Josef Land, lying to the 

 southwest of where they were. They had unluckily left their mid- 

 winter clothing on the ship, thinking that it would not be needed 

 in the spring weather, but in a temperature ranging from 49 to 4 

 degrees below zero they felt the want of it severely, the perspiration 

 of the body converting their woolen clothing every day into an icy 

 coat of mail, which had to be thawed out by the bodily heat at night 

 when they crept into their sleeping-bags. As a result they would 

 shiver for an hour and a half before they felt at all comfortable. 



